Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a big deal in Spain. We were gone for most of the festivities, but I met up with Joey and Melissa for a procession the Saturday before Easter. Hooray for not being sick of each other yet!
The procession began with police clearing the way on motor bikes. Next came the cavalry--beautiful horses with uniformed riders. Then came the drummers. These drummers wore purple and brown robes, hats covering their faces, and were all ages. It was a little spooky, actually, because the dummers had costumes just like the Ku Klux Klan--however, the Klan got the idea from Spain, not the other way around.
Pious people dressed in traditional and formal clothing followed the musical groups. Eventually the Madre Maria was carried through the streets on the shoulders of about twelve men. A few months ago I saw men practicing near Plaza de San Miguel with the heavy frame that supports the mother of God. This is serious business.
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