Semana Santa

It's Semana Santa in Sevilla. Say that five times fast. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is the week long celebration before Easter. There are processions thought the streets with life-size sculptures of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and a number of scenes from the passion. Everything is embellished with gold, flowers, and candles. The streets are packed with thousands of people....if you like personal space, probably better to find a window with a good view. The processions involve men and women of the various hermandades and other groups carrying these sculptures on platforms through the city, followed by other religious iconography and decorations, many of which are from the 15th century. Sevillanos spend weeks preparing special clothing, food, and decorations for Semana Santa. In my culture class we studied how a large part of the economy of Seville relies on preparations for this special week alone. When you see it, you believe it. Guille, my Senora, loves to make torijas for Semana Santa. They are a postre (desert) typical of and specifically for Semana Santa. They are a special bread dipped in wine, olive oil, sugar, and sometimes milk, then fried. To me, they taste a lot like French toast. All of the cafes advertise, "Hay torijas" to get people to come in. This is just a small taste (literally) of the rich tradition which comprises Semana Santa. The cultural identity of Sevillanos is also very evident during this special week. There are things you can see, that catch your eye when distinguishing cultures. The way people dress, foods that they eat, the way they talk, mannerisms, etc. Then there are things you can sense. One of the things that you can sense about the culture of Seville during Semana Santa is the pride of the people. Not that you can't see this everyday, but you need only to turn on the TV or step out on the street and you can tell how proud the people are of their hard work and traditions that have made Semana Santa what it is. It is ever-evolving, but still ever the same.