Semana Santa

Semana Santa is in Spanish speaking countries used name for the Holy Week, the week before Easter , that there is exuberantly decorated. In some other Catholic countries are covered many religious images with purple cloths in this week, silence the bells and organ remains untouched. In Spain and South America on the other hand pull out processions in a baroque design and ostentatious suffering of Christ and Mary in the streets visible. Characteristic are the big picture groups on gilded platforms (paso) are carried around. Generally each procession has a paso with a scene from the Passion of Christ and a paso with a sad Mary. These processions are essentially fine processions. There invariably penitents walk in it, wearing clothing with pointed masks, to ensure anonymity. These costumes are later by the (otherwise strongly anti-Catholic ) American Ku Klux Klan used, making the image of the Spanish penitent when some in the West has been given a negative connotation.

Spain
Outside Seville find similar ceremonies took place, especially in the capitals of the other provinces of Andalusia, Huelva , Cadiz , Malaga , Cordoba , Granada , Jaén andAlmería . In addition, many villages and small towns with their own traditions, often with their own peculiarities. The processions in Málaga are distinguished by their different paso's, there Tronos called, which are much larger than elsewhere and must be nominated by one hundred Hombres del trono.

Outside Andalusia have different strokes similar traditions, often austere. Also in South America has this habit spread.

Uruguay
In Uruguay, the Semana Santa nicknamed "la semana turistica". Many Uruguayans then go on holiday, mainly to domestic destinations such as the coast and the hot spring parks near Salto .