Palm Sunday, Malaga Holy Week. Domingo de Ramos en inglés
Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, from Sunday, April 2nd - Saturday, April 8th. Easter is on Sunday, April 9th.
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Málaga
The holy week is one of the most important events in Spain. Tradition, faith and passion move millions of people from different places around the world. Last year, Malaga welcomed more than 6 millions of visitors because of this celebration.
Malaga city has more than 42 brotherhoods and more than 100 holy images.
OUR STAFF
Since the origin of our radio station, SER Malaga funded a professional staff to cover all of the events during this memorable week. Our media is known around Spain working in Malaga for more than 30 years and more than 10000 listeners. He also goes out to the streets to experience the great moments of Lent and, of course, throughout Holy Week.
PALM SUNDAY
POLLINICA
Description
This procession initiates the Holy Week of Málaga. Although the processions do not follow a chronological order this brotherhood offers one of the first scenes of the Passion of Jesus, his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. On the first float, we find Jesus riding on a donkey accompanied by his calf, the so-called "pollinica", giving the brotherhood the popular name. In addition, Saint John the Evangelist, two children and a woman with her son in her arms are also represented. Behind them we can see a palm tree, which is a unique element in the Holy Week of Málaga.
This brotherhood carries out its route in the morning, this is one of the reasons why there is a large number of children amongst its nazarenos, they carry palm leaves in their hands representing the reception of the Hebrews to Jesus on his arrival to Jerusalem.
Also, the Virgin of the Amparo accompanies her son on another float, smiling, with a yellow rose in her hand. This flower represents the promise of a deceased lady, a member of the brotherhood, a promise that her relatives have decided to continue.
It is tradition in Málaga to wear new clothes on Palm Sunday. There is even a saying about it. "Palm Sunday, who does not wear new clothes has no hands”. This is probably because the Holy Week usually coincides with the change of season, when, in the past, it was the time to buy new clothes. Additionally, these types of events became a social showcase where the spectators wore their best clothes.
How are they dressed?
In the section of Christ: cream coloured tunic, purple capirote and cíngulo. The children wear open purple headdresses (faraonas).
In the section of the Virgin: cream coloured tunic, green capirote and cíngulo. The children wear green faraonas.
LÁGRIMAS Y FAVORES
Description
Even though this procession is rather recent in the official route, it is one of the most anticipated ones, partly due to the presence of the actor Antonio Banderas, who was born in Málaga and directs the float. Each Palm Sunday he becomes just another penitent and completes the itinerary with his face covered. His dedication to the brotherhood is wholehearted. All the float’s carriers meet inside the church of San Juan just before the procession starts and sing the brotherhood’s hymn, written by the actor
Then, known as “Niña de San Juan”, one of the Virgins of the brotherhood Fusionadas, the oldest in the city (1505) begins its itinerary. Fusionadas is the brotherhood that has the most floats during the Holy Week, a total of six. The carving Lágrimas y Favores was created in 1982 after the original 18th century one was destroyed in a fire. A remarkable curiosity, on the float we can see the sculpture of a black angel, symbolising the union and fraternity between races.
The activities of brotherhoods are not limited to the Holy Week, as many of them carry out charitable projects. This is the case of the Lágrimas y Favores Foundation, with Antonio Banderas at the helm, it helps cancer patients in the city and offers scholarships to university students lacking economic resources.
It should also be noted that the foundation created and funds a Holy Week Studies Chair (Cátedra de Estudios Cofrades) at the University of Málaga.
How are they dressed?
Cream coloured tunic, green capirote with an embroidered Maltese Cross on the chest area. The tunic is tight-fitted with a sash made of straw.
HUMILDAD Y PACIENCIA
Description
Jesus meditates while waiting to be crucified sitting on a mound of stone on Mount Calvary. Three Roman soldiers and two executioners stand close to him. This is the scene presented on Palm Sunday by the Humildad y Paciencia brotherhood. It is one of the most recent ones in the Association of Brotherhoods and amongst the ones with the longest route, around 10 hours of penance, as the procession starts in the neighbourhood of Cruz de Humilladero
After the Christ, we find María Santísima de Dolores y Esperanza. Both statues are carried on simple wooden floats. The Brotherhoods of Málaga are constantly improving their heritage and many of them choose to gild or silver plate their floats, among other objects.
How are they dressed?
In the section of Christ: cream tunics with brown coloured capirote, cíngulo and scapular. In the section of the Virgin: brown tunics with cream coloured capirote, cíngulo and scapular.
HUMILDAD
Description
This brotherhood’s procession is a large sculptural group representing the moment when Pontius Pilate asked the people to choose between Jesus and the thief Barabbas to save one of them from crucifixion. This is the reason why Jesus is in the foreground with the Roman prefect, and further behind we can see Claudia Procula (Pontius Pilate’s wife), Caiaphas (High Priest of Jerusalem), Barabbas and two Roman soldiers. The entire sculptural group that accompanies Jesus was completed in 2012.
Also, in the Virgin section we have the Virgen de la Merced accompanied by the disciple of Jesus, Saint John the Evangelist.
This brotherhood starts its procession in the district of Calle Victoria, one of the enclaves with the most brotherhoods of the Holy Week.
How are they dressed?
Both sections wear white tunic and capirote with the Mercedarian shield on the chest and a sash made of straw.
HUERTO
Description
This brotherhood is one of the founders of the Association of Brotherhoods of Málaga, the oldest in Spain, which was created in 1921. Likewise, the statues of both floats are the oldest of the Holy Week in Málaga. The statue of Jesus, Nuestro Padre Jesús Orando en el Huerto, is a piece made by the sculptor of religious images Fernando Ortiz in 1756. The Virgin, Nuestra Señora de la Concepción Dolorosa, is also created in the 18th century but the author is unknown.
This procession has several peculiarities, such as the natural hair that the statue of Jesus wears, usually combed with long ringlets. In Málaga the hair of the images is usually made of wood, as part of the statue and only a few wear this type of hair.
On a different subject, this is also one of the three floats that carry an olive tree on top. Every year this tree is chosen by the brotherhood. The olive tree helps recreate the atmosphere described in the represented passage: the prayer of Jesus asking his father to save him from his destiny.
In addition, we can see how the Virgin looks towards the sky with tears running down her face. She is dressed in a spectacular cape embroidered with the flagship tree of the brotherhood, the olive tree.
How are they dressed?
In the section of Christ: white tunics with buttons, capirote, sardinetas (belt with two hanging bands finished in tassels) and a purple cape
In the section of the Virgin: white tunics with buttons, capirote, sardineta and a blue cape.
DULCE NOMBRE
Description
This sculptural group represents the biblical passage where Saint Peter denies his friendship with Jesus three times before the cock crowed, hence the crow on top of the column. But this is not the only animal you can see in this procession. Since 2017 this float carries the only dog in the Holy Week in Málaga, due to the Franciscan character of the brotherhood, representing Saint Francis of Paola. The scene is completed with the accusing woman and two soldiers. This sculptural group will increase in the coming years.
After the float of Jesus we find María Santísima del Dulce Nombre with her turquoise cape, an unusual colour in Málaga, inspired by the nearby Mediterranean sea.
One more peculiarity of Dulce Nombre is its departure from a “tinglao”. An ephemeral space (only existing during the Holy Week) built on the street with scaffolding and canvass offering shelter to the floats only during the days of the Holy Week when the procession takes place. This practice has fallen into disuse, although several decades ago there were many processions starting and finishing in these structures. The Brotherhood’s house is currently being built in the neighbourhood of El Ejido.
How are they dressed?
In the section of Christ: brown tunic, black capirote and cape and cream coloured cíngulo with three Franciscan knots.
In the section of the Virgin: brown tunic, cream capirote and cíngulo and black cape.
SALUTACIÓN
Description
The float of Jesus represents the biblical passage where Saint Veronica dries the face of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary. This piece of cloth becomes the protagonist of this brotherhood. Every year an artist is asked to paint the cloth carried by this figure on Palm Sunday. On the float, in addition to Saint Veronica and Jesus, we can see three women from Jerusalem and one Roman centurion. Also, we should highlight that this same float houses a relic of the Passion of Jesus Christ. On the front side, we can see a piece where the Sacramental Bread is usually placed, but in this case serves to preserve a thorn from the crown of Jesus.
The float carrying the virgin, María Santísima del Patrocinio, Reina de los Cielos, together with Saint John the Evangelist, is one of the most recent ones incorporated to the official tour of the Holy Week in Málaga. In 2017 this float was carried for the first time through the Alameda Avenue, Calle Larios Street and the Official Grandstand in the Plaza de la Constitución square.
How are they dressed?
In the section of Christ: white tunics and capirotes with purple buttons and cíngulo.
In the section of the Virgin: white tunics and capirotes with burgundy buttons and cíngulo.
SALUD
Description
In the Holy Week of Málaga the Passion of Christ is not described in chronological order. Proof of this is on Palm Sunday when we can see the first crucified Jesus of the week. On this float, we see Jesus, Santísimo Cristo de la Esperanza en su Gran Amor, nailed to the crossed, rising on a mound of flowers (a structure that will be repeated in many crucifixion images), showing the moment when Christ says: " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. ".
In the procession, he is followed by Maria Santísima de la Salud, dressed in a blood-coloured cape embroidered in gold.
One of the peculiarities of this brotherhood is the way they start and finish their procession. The images come from inside the church of San Pablo, whose small doors force the float’s carriers to start and end the route on their knees enabling them to enter and exit through the low lintel of the temple.
How are they dressed?
In the section of Christ: white tunic and scapular, with purple hood and cíngulo.
In the section of the Virgin: white tunic and scapular, with burgundy capirote and cíngulo.
PRENDIMIENTO
Description
During this Palm Sunday, we can observe two scenes happening very close in time. The brotherhood of El Huerto represents the prayer of Jesus amongst olive trees. A little later, in this same historical location, the capture of Christ by the Roman soldiers takes place, thanks to the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. This is the passage represented by the brotherhood of Prendimiento. On this silver-plated float, we see a sculptural group where, besides Judas kissing Jesus to turn him in and the soldier, we can see Saint John, Saint James, Saint Peter and Malco, the servant of the high priest. In this biblical passage, one of the disciples cuts the ear of the servant who is helping to take Jesus away. Jesus then takes pity on him and performing a miracle returns the auditory organ. Just as it happens in the float of El Huerto, here we can see a large olive tree in the background. On Holy Tuesday, the last procession carries another olive tree, the brotherhood Rescate.
The Virgin closing the procession is María Santísima del Gran Perdón, with an expression of soft pain and Hebrew features on her face.
How are they dressed?
In the section Christ: white tunic with red buttons, capirote and cape and an embroidered scapular.
In the section of the Virgin: white tunic with blue buttons, capirote and cape and an embroidered scapular.