Happy Belated Semana Santa!

So having internet finally in the apartment, I've been up loading pictures and I've noticed there are several blog entries that should have posted at one point or another, that simply were not... probably because trying to stand in a window while these things load, taking forever, simply was enough to deter me from doing it.

 

I'll probably spend some time today thought fixing that. This ones on Semana Santa:

Ok, so Right after I got back from Paris, Semana Santa was in full bloom. Here in Granada its a celebration that lasts a week and is prepped for for about 2 months. I can actually recall walking through the streets seeing large groups of people practicing for it, although at the time, I had no idea what was going on. 

I got back on Thursday night and saw a little bit of one procession, and Friday I watched on of the processions for about an hour. Really, they were just really slow parades where people carry giant floats all over the city. A very relic practice clearly. They've been doing it for a few hundred years I suppose, its just like something those crazy Christians would do. especially those from the medieval European times. 

Anyways, the punto de encuentro for me was the Saturday procession. Two reasons; One, it was a great time save for me by getting to see all 22 floats come down the street all at the same time, and Two, it only happens once every 100 years. Yes, the last time it happened was 1909. 

What happens is the town stores these figures and floats all over the town in the different churches (really, there are about a thousand of em in this city). On the floats is a certain scene from the bible about Jesus' persecution, crucification, his rise from death, and ultimately his ascent to heaven. When all 22 floats are lined up in order, it tells the story from beginning to end. Its pretty need, and some of the floats are QUITE well done. Not all of them though. 

So the people in the procession are dressed in these outfits to march down the street. The leaders are usually kids from the churches probably and the main mass of people are dressed in these outfits identical to those of the Klu Klux Klan costume. From what I hear, these processions are where they come from. And then come the floats.

First the kids

Then the costumed people...

Then the float.

The floats must weigh probably around 1000 pounds, because underneath there are about 35 men carrying it, marching down the street in unison. They can't see and so they have people out in front directing them. Also, the Floats are made of a steel frame, covered with heavy cloth material, and on top carry extravagant scenes, usually containing at least 4-10 sculptures and a shit ton of wax candles. 

I sat on the sidewalk with some friends during this procession and it lasted about 6 hours. Needless to say my butt was hurting haha.

 But it was interesting, at least for the first several floats. Also there were thousands and thousands of people. It was something like 200 busses arrived in Granada just that day for the procession, and over the course of the week, the city had filled up with over 200,000 tourists from all over Spain and other countries to see them. >.<>

Thats a little bit on Semana Santa. 

Until next time- Paul G

Here is a video of the guys carrying the float. >.<