La Semana Santa

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The origin of the holiday La Semana Santa is in Spain in the Apostolic Constitutions dating all the way back to the third and fourth century common era. It is, in the Christian religion, the Holy Week and also the last week of Lent. And it is the week immediately before Easter Sunday. La Semana Santa is composed of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Throughout the Holy Week there are many traditions. One of these traditions is to have a parade or street procession every evening of the week. During this social gathering people bring their statues of holy people or saints and either carry them or put them floats or platforms in the parade. Another tradition is for people to dress as the Nazarenos, or people of Nazareth, and parade down the streets in groups of people. These Nazarenos dressers appear to be wearing the same attire as the Ku Klux Klan but the thing they have most in common is the “Capriote” or pointed white hat they both use. The capriote symbolizes a rising towards Heaven. These people symbolize penance and sometimes walk barefooted with chains around their feet. They also carry candles or wooden crosses. The poor guys who have to carry the platforms throughout the entire procession are called “Costaleros” and they are followed by the Nazarenos. A Trono is a very, very heavy platform that is immensely decorated with a huge statue of Jesus Christ on it. Normally “trono” is just a fancy chair for a King or someone important but seeing as how Jesus was said to be King of the Jews it’s fitting that he would get a seat of royalty. But the main object of everyone’s attention is the Trono with Jesus on it. Music is also played while the parade is going on and is usually sentimental, melancholy, sad-ish, depressing stuff but that too makes sense because this is all to symbolize the pain and suffering Christ went through
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