Thousands of Sevillian citizens prepare thousands of processes throughout the year to be ready for Holy Week that commemorates the passion of Christ according to the Christian faith, the entrance to Jerusalem, the last supper, the Stations of the Cross, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.
It remains Lent until the evening of Holy Thursday when the Easter Triduum begins: the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper; Good Friday, the crucifixion and death of the Lord, and the night of Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil.
This year, 60 brotherhoods parade to the city cathedral and 16 brotherhoods and parish groups process on the previous days, on Good Friday and Passion Saturday, without passing by the cathedral. In addition to the religious aspects, Holy Week in Seville is a sociocultural, tourist and economic phenomenon of great importance in the city. In 1980 it was declared of International Tourist Interest.
The General Council of Brotherhoods and Confraternities of Seville is the body in charge of regulating all the Holy Week processions, streamlining procedures and agreements with official institutions and controlling the times of passage along an established route in the city centre known as the official race.
The Holy Week processions open with the guiding cross, which is usually accompanied by a pair of Nazarenes with lanterns. After the guiding cross begins the procession of Nazarenes, who carry candles or crosses as penance. The sections of Nazarenes are interspersed with a set of insignia.
The most common insignia are: the senatus, in memory of the Roman army that guarded Christ; the flags that accompany each step, which usually have passion or Marian colors; the simpecado, in defense of the dogma of the immaculate conception; the book of rules and the banner. The procession of Nazarenes usually ends with the horns that announce the step, with the presidency and, after this, the acolytes and the steps.
The Week begins next Sunday March 24, also called Palm Sunday and ends on March 31, with the day of Resurrection. Thousands of Sevillians will take to the streets to give their best and keep their promises.
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