SUPER IMPORTANT MUST-READ DO OR DIE DISCLAIMER:
These are not photos of a Klan rally. Most unfortunately for Spain, the KKK decided to model their uniforms off Spain's Semana Santa getup, which has been around since the 15th century and only has holy and reverent connotations for the Spanish. Keep that in mind.
Okay, with that said, here we are: Holy Week in Spain, called Semana Santa, is a BIG DEAL. Not a big deal but a BIG DEAL. Málaga has one of the more famous celebrations, although if you ask any Malagueño they will sniff and tell you that they have the only celebration.
The hallmarks of the thing are the parades. They close down all the major streets in the city and pretty much continually march up and down, in slightly creepy costumes, holding religious icons, candles and huge floats called tronos. The floats are carried by men, hoisted on the shoulders, sometimes up to 250 or 300 men at a time. It's quite impressive really.
European parades: People walk and carry the floats.
ReplyDeleteAmerican parades: Everyone rides in a vehicle, or on a float pulled by a motorized vehicle.
yikes. that is a bit unsettling.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture of the little girl... Semana Santa is such an important date in Spain (and well, specially in Sevilla). People from all around Spain drive to the south to be part of it. It's amazing!
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