6 curiosities of the Holy Week in Seville

1. What is Holy Week in Seville?

Holy Week is celebrated during the last week of Lent, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. During these days, more than 60 brotherhoods organize processions all over the city. Each one carries its floats through the streets, accompanied by Nazarenes, costaleros, and marching bands.

It’s a blend of religion, art, culture, and Andalusian identity. For the people of Seville, it’s not just a tradition: it’s part of their soul.

2. How is this tradition experienced?

During Holy Week, Seville doesn’t sleep. Processions begin in the morning and can last until the early hours of the next day. The streets are filled with incense, saetas, and absolute silence when the floats pass.

Whether you’re religious or not, experiencing it live is unforgettable. Spanish learners find it a perfect opportunity to hear the language in a real, emotional and culturally rich context.

3. Typical vocabulary to understand Holy Week

• Paso: structure that carries the religious images.

• Costalero: person who carries the float on their neck and back.

• Cofradía / Hermandad: religious group that organizes each procession.

• Nazareno: person who takes part in the procession, usually wearing a tunic and a cone-shaped hood.

• Saeta: a traditional flamenco-style song interpreted from balconies in honor of the images.

• Capirote: cone-shaped hood worn by the Nazarenes.

• Cirial: tall candle carried by some members of the procession.

4. 6 Surprising facts that will amaze you

• Some processions walk for more than 10 hours without rest.

• The most popular brotherhoods, like La Macarena and El Gran Poder, draw thousands of people.

• La Madrugá on Good Friday is one of the most intense moments: processions go on all night long.

• The city comes to a halt: streets are closed, traffic disappears, classes are cancelled, and many businesses reduce hours.

• Balconies are decorated with red and purple fabrics, and the streets smell of incense and orange blossom.

• Some Nazarenes make religious promises and walk barefoot for kilometers as an act of penance. Some even carry crosses or walk in complete silence without raising their gaze.

Studying Spanish in Seville during Holy Week is experiencing the language through the heart of the culture.

If you want to combine language immersion with unforgettable experiences, Carlos V Education opens the doors for you.