La Semana Santa is a holiday celebrated in most Spanish speaking countries but it originated in Spain. It takes place the entire week prior to Easter or, in Spanish, Pascua. They celebrate their Christian traditions and on this very important holiday. During this week, the city is very busy. All of the businesses close their shops for Semana Santa but the bars and restaurants stay open. Every afternoon, floats parade through the city, some carrying a life size Jesus and Virgin Mary for hours.
Semana Santa is primarily to celebrate the death of Christ. They take this week to commemorate his death and to confess their sins. They value the thought of suffering and sacrifice. The holiday was started in 1521 when Marqués de Tarifa came back from the Holy Land to Spain. He established the Via Crusis or Stations of the Cross. This started the celebrations of Semana Santa and the holiday has evolved greatly over the years.
The preparation for this big event starts months in advance. Cofradias are the like the coordinators of the event. In English, Cofradias means brotherhood and they work together to plan and make sure the entire holiday is taken care of. They are also known as the “Heart of the Holy Week”. Confradias have to map out the route of the parade for every day of the week. The parts of the parade that are on main streets have bleachers on the sides for seating. However, these seats must be booked far in advance and are very costly. Cofradias also have to make sure that there are police and security so that the holiday is safe and peaceful. After the day’s parade ends, there are crews that come out and clean the streets. The Confradias are in charge of taking care of the Jesus and Virgin Mary throughout the year and that al...
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...y do it to remember and to honor Christ.
Works Cited
April's Tag Game ~ Semana Santa ~ Easter in Spain. (2014). Retrieved March 23, 2014, from Food.com: http://www.food.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=373241
Explore Seville. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2014, from INSIDER'S GUIDE: Semana Santa in Seville: http://www.exploreseville.com/events/semana-santa.htm
Guide, M. (2009, August 20). Semana Santa-Spanish Easter. Retrieved March 22, 2014, from Marbella Guide: http://www.marbella-guide.com/semana-santa-spanish-easter/
Holy Week. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2014, from Semana Santa: http://web.schc.sc.edu/Samantha_Ward_Senior_Thesis/SemanaSanta.html
Weaver, M. (2009, March 12). Semana Santa(Holy Week) in Seville, Spain. Retrieved March 20, 2014, from National Geographic: http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2009/03/12/semana_santa_holy_week_in_sevi/
Dia de los reyes magos is on Jan. 5 - Feb. 2 and the day is about the 3 wisemen, But January the 6th is the special day in Mexico….. this day represents the height of the Christmas season. This celebration is where it is stated that the kings, Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthasar, traveled by night all the way from the farthest confines of the Earth to bring gifts to Jesus, whom they recognized as the Son of God. As well as regal, the Three Kings are depicted as wise men, whose very wisdom is proved by their acknowledgement of Christ's divine status. Arrived from three different directions, the kings followed the light provided by the star of Bethlehem, which reportedly lingered over the manger where the Virgin Mary gave birth for many days. In
...ligious life of the town of San Miguel and construction of its main temple which from 1872 he was raised to parish. But like everyone, this temple of the Holy Trinity underwent several transformations, for example: in the first decades of the 19th century was built the current altar; and from 1881 to 1897 he received major improvements, like the composure of the entire building, the purchase of pictures, furniture and several sacred ornaments as well as the construction of the chapels of the Tabernacle and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and the arches of the entrance to the former chapel of the Entombment of Christ and the old sacristy; the most recent improvement was made in the last years of the 20th century, and which involved the National Institute of anthropology and history, the Government of the State and the father Carlos Cabrero, responsible for the parish.
Las Posadas is a Mexican holiday that is like Christmas for the United States. It was originated in Spain and lasts for nine days. This holiday begins on December sixteenth and ends on December twenty-fourth. This is also a catholic holiday but most people in Mexico celebrate it. This holiday was thought to be started in the sixteenth century by “St. Ignatius of Loyola or Friar Pedro de Gant in Mexico.” In Mexico they have a tradition where they put a candle in a paper lampshade. Then they would take the lampshade with the candle inside it and went outside to sing a song, allowing Joseph and Mary to be recognized and allowed to enter the world. This is still a tradition today but one thing has changed from around when it was started. It, for some people, celebrated it in a church instead of the family’s home. There is a thing that is common for both the United Stated and Mexico. They both sing Christmas carols, they go along to houses or in a church and sing Christmas songs. On these days the children will break piñatas to get the candy and prizes inside. They also so another thing ...
The infamous "Day of the Dead" or dia de los muertos actually takes place over a period of 2 days. It is the largest and most elaborate celebration in mexico all year long, its even bigger than Christmas. In the past, this period marked the time when the deceased could return to the world of the living and visit their loved ones, but now it is usually a time to celebrate, remember, and pray for their souls.
...an alcohol like margaritas, sangria, Corona and Dos Equis. People are usually wearing or decorate with the colors of the Mexican flag which are red, white and green. Some music that you would hear is folk music or mariachi bands along with dancing to them. But there is other music to listen to like tejano and banda. Children in school celebrate by making banners and educating them about it each year.
Christmas is a holiday celebrated by most of the world. Christianity is very popular in the US and Hispanic cultures. In the US, Christmas is celebrated with going to Church on Christmas Eve, spending time with their families, and many other things. People also reenact the nativity scene, sing Christmas carols, and do
My mission is named after St. Agnes who was put into a fire, and then beheaded when she was 12 years old. When Agnes refused to offer incense to the pagan idols, the Chumash Indians put Agnes into a fire but she remained untouched by the flames. Since the flames did not kill her, she was then beheaded. On her feast day on the 21st of January, two lambs are blessed and their wool is used to make the palliums (which are bands of white wool which the pope gives to the archbishops as symbol of their authority over the new archbishop) of the year. A large painting of St. Agnes is at Santa Ines Mission carrying a lamb, a palm and a lily which was painted by Andres Lopez and restored in 1953. One padre kept a journal of the founding of the mission. He also kept a list of supplies that were used at the mission as well as the climate which is Mediterranean (hot and dry) in the summer and mild and rainy in the winter.
Gifts exchanged, etc. just like in the USA.” (“Spanish Holidays”.) The Agricultura y Recursos Naturales said, “Easter is one of the highest holy days of the year. The week leading up to Easter involves solemn processions, prayer, masses and other preparation for Jesus’ rebirth.” (“Major Holidays and Celebrations of Spanish-Speaking Countries”.)
After Calle Ocho and Lent comes Easter Sunday, where the celebration of Easter honors Christ’s resurrection. Since eggs are symbols for renewal and is perfect for spring, it is used for decorations and egg hunting activities. Mexican Americans put a different spin on the event, draining and cleaning eggshells a month before Easter to create cascarones. Cascarón or cascarones means eggshell. Cascarones are filled with confetti and closed with colored tissue paper to make hats that can be cracked over someone’s head. In April, there is a recent Mexican celebration that was immigrated to the United States called Día de los Niños/ Día de los Libros which translated means Day of Children/Day of Books. It has been reintroduced to the U.S. as a celebration of children and reading. Today, it can be celebrated at libraries, at a parade or at home with children. In May, there is Cinco de Mayo. It is already known in the U.S. to be a day of party or fiesta, but it also g...
Christmas is a holiday filled with tradition, family, and happiness, but what most people don’t know is that Christmas is celebrated all over the world, not just the United States. Latin American countries are especially passionate about Christmas. The way Hispanic people celebrate changes throughout each country. Each one has its own unique Christmas culture. In this essay I am going to write about some of these different countries, and tell how each one is similar and different in showing their Christmas spirit.
Another food is stuffed turkey and roasted stuffed pig. During Miranda(a event where a pig gets fried) a Christmas party in thrown with family, friends and neighbors. Also, families decorate Christmas trees. On Candle day, which is December 7th, candles are lit in window sills and and in streets to celebrate December. Most of these candles are red and blue. On the 16th of December families, neighbors and friends pray for 9 days. Santa does not exist in Colombia, instead Jesus gives them presents. A way that children hope to get presents is on the day before Christmas Eve, children write notes to baby Jesus and put these notes in the pesebre (nativity). These notes also can be called Carta Niño Dios. On Christmas, which is the 25th, they eat leftovers from Christmas Eve. On Christmas people in the U.S. eat ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, ham, stuffing and bread. In the U.S. people decorate Christmas trees with ornaments and lights. Families also hang stockings above fireplaces, bed posts, stair cases, window sills, door knobs and other places. Also, some children leave out cookies for Santa, they also write letters to him. It is believed that Santa Claus eats cookies that are left out for him, and he leaves presents under the Christmas trees for all the good boys and girls, and if you don’t be nice you get coal in your stocking instead of candy. Also, a tradition that started in 2005 is Elves
... Religious Customs, History, Legends, and Symbols from around the World; Supplemented by a Bibliography and Lists of Christmas Web Sites and Associations. Detroit, Mich: Omnigraphics, 2003. Print.
El Dia de los Muertos goes back to the Aztecs, who had not just a few days but an entire month dedicated to the dead. When the Spanish conquistadors vanquished the Aztecs, they changed the tradition so it was at the same time of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. El Dia de los Muertos was brought to the United States when Mexican-Americans underwent a cultural reawakening in the early 1970s. The holiday's popularity has since spread to other races and cultures.
In conclusion, the Christmas season in Spain is a more holy and traditional event than in the United States. If you were in Spain during this season you would be likely to see large feasts among family and friends, people worshipping in the streets, and children swinging and singing Christmas songs. Gifts are given at this time, but the Spanish people view it more as a time of worship and family togetherness. Although they generally spend less money on the Christmas season in Spain, it is as just as an important of a holiday as it is in America.
Although it was never celebrated in biblical times, Christmas is celebrated in local churches here in Visalia, California in praise of the fact that God loved us so much; he sent his one and only son to earth. He was wholey god and wholey man. Whereas we have succumbed to the temptations of this earth, Jesus was able to overcome all temptations and live a sinless life. He was then crucified as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. One cannot understand why we celebrate the birth of Christ without seeing the other end of his life. He was crucified for our sins and resurrected.