The Guide to Holy Week in Andalusia

Close to the traffic
During Holy Week, the old part of town is literally closed to road traffic, so leave your car if you want to move from one place to another; in any case taxies are easy to find. Bring comfortable footwear and be aware of your limits, the week is very long and grows in intensity; it would be unforgivable to get to early hours of the morning completely exhausted.

Visit the temples
Every morning you can and must visit the brotherhoods that parade that day from their temple. It is the best way for sensing the atmosphere and feeling the excitement prior to the rocession’s departure. Worth mentioning is the ”Besamanos del Gran Poder” (Hand Kissing of the Great Power) which starts Palm Sunday and finishes Holy Wednesday. It is highly recommended that you try to see the float on Palm Sunday to gain a better understanding of the true significance of the “Gran Poder” and how deep the beliefs of the people of Seville are.

Make your own programme
Avoid the crowds if you can. It can be magic to see the float swinging away from first line but it also has its disadvantages. Unless you are 20 years, I personally believe, that there are more disadvantages than advantages. Times have changed and what was possible in years gone by is now impossible. Actually it is the first interactive spectacle in history; it is intended that each person makes their own programme according to their own needs and abilities.

Recommendations for children
There are special recommendations for those accompanied by children; they must take into account that there are areas of open space which are comfortable, with places to sit and have a drink whilst waiting, and above all where children can move about freely and ask for sweets and wax from the “nazarenos” (the penitents walking in the procession). Asking for sweets or wax is very typical in Seville and perfect for the little ones to lose their fear of the somewhat daunting figure of the “nazareno”. Don´t worry too much about the security of the kids, if they go out of sight for a few minutes you can be sure that someone will be watching out and looking after them, with the same care as you would. Children are actually the essence and reason for Seville’s Holy Week.

Conclusion
In conclusion, a summary of the basic principles are; it is important not to forget that this is a religious celebration, though it may not seem so at times. Respect and you will be respected; in fact, few spectacles are as open and respectful to the foreigner as Seville’s Holy Week. The only thing requested of you, no matter how you feel it, is to respect the beliefs of others. Underneath it is a tradition, a sociological or cultural fact, extremely controlled with the ultimate meaning being a way to understand life and death, a much more important rite than it seems.