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Holy Week Experience

mlhhome

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF (X3), VDLP, Madrid ‘12-‘22
I am curious and am wondering (for those currently on pilgrimage), what was your experience during Holy Week? Did you observe a procession? What was your highlight and what would be your advice for those who walk this week next year?

Please help us reminisce and plan!

Million Thanks

Mike
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I was lucky to be in Ferrol for one of the Semana Santa parades in 2022. It was an amazing experience. (The thumbnails look low quality but you should be able to click on them to see a high res image).
 

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I was in Zaragoza (Camino Catalan) for Good Friday 2022 and inexpensive rooms were plentiful. They host one of the longest GF processions in the world, so it was quite a sight to see but oddly uncrowded.

In 2019, we celebrated Easter in Roncesvalles. We prebooked accommodations in SJPdP, Orisson, and there because of Semana Santa but the route was not overly crowded.

For future Semana Santas, it’s really important to know where you’ll be at the end of the week since while some sections may get busy, most of them do not.
 

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The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
I am curious and am wondering (for those currently on pilgrimage), what was your experience during Holy Week? Did you observe a procession? What was your highlight and what would be your advice for those who walk this week next year?

Please help us reminisce and plan!

Million Thanks

Mike

I walked last year during Semana Santa on the VdlP.
Though I made sure I was clear of Seville before it started.

I saw the 'full' procession in Merida, that was wonderful.



I saw a small local procession in Alcuescar, a small town.
We sat outside the Church as everyone arrived. It seemed half the town were dressed up to participate.
There were two processions. The late one at 11 pm went past my ground floor window in a tiny cobble street.

And in Fuente de Cantos, another small town, I think I saw one of the best ones.
It was a rehearsal for the local kids procession.
Carrying small versions of the 'floats' that the adults carry.
Again, it went right past my window.

It's a great time to be on Camino.
 
No processions, but I spent an hour helping some gentlemen set up floats in the church in Los Arcos. That’s been the highlight of my Camino experience so far.
 

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In Sarria this afternoon after a week of different parades in various towns. Great to see but they can start late and there are party goers all night in the larger cities. So it can be very noisy and the streets/bars have been crowded. Even in the wet cold weather we have experienced. Not complaining, it's unlike anything I have seen before, just noting there can be challenges with enjoying the parades.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I was in Santiago for the weekend and of five or six processions only two on Friday happened. The rain prevented the others. Nonetheless the ones I saw were impressive and moving.
 
If you have the opportunity to visit Spain during Semana Santa...take it! My wife and I were in Cadiz for Holy Thursday, and Jerez de la Frontera for Easter Sunday last year. If we can...a repeat visit during Holy Week...would be our goal. Buen Camino.
 

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I am curious and am wondering (for those currently on pilgrimage), what was your experience during Holy Week? Did you observe a procession? What was your highlight and what would be your advice for those who walk this week next year?

Please help us reminisce and plan!

Million Thanks

Mike
In LEON THE FESTIVITIES AND PARAGES GO ON ALL DAY AND NIGHT.
 
3rd Edition. Vital content training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
If you have the opportunity to visit Spain during Semana Santa...take it! My wife and I were in Cadiz for Holy Thursday, and Jerez de la Frontera for Easter Sunday last year. If we can...a repeat visit during Holy Week...would be our goal. Buen Camino.
On a tip -off from a friend i finished my Camino before Semana Santa, met up with my wife and sister-in -law and afterwitnessing a marvellous procession on Palm Sunday in Madrid right near our hotel spent the rest of the week in Toledo, the seat of the Catholic Church in Spain.Processions every day( mainly night and early dawn on Easter Day), hordes of people, an utterly marvellous experience, top five bucket list one.

De Colores

Bogong
 
In the evening of April 15, 2022 I met a man in Carrion de Los Condes who was wearing a black cape and impressive black felt hat. I asked if he was a La Tuna musician. He said no, follow me. We walked up the the now open building that held all the procession floats. I got to wander around inside and look at them up close. Then I stood opposite the door as each departed for the MOST IMPRESSIVE procession. The Camino provides. Buen Camino
 

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