If you would like to discover the popular customs of this region, you
should visit Seville in springtime, when within only two weeks take place
the two most important festivities of this city: Semana Santa, Easter Week,
with its world-famous processions, and Feria de Sevilla, the Flamenco-event
in the land.
The traditions of Semana Santa go back to 16th century, when the Catholic
Church decided to present the Passion of Christ to the population in an
easily understandable way: they had made huge wooden figures of Saints by
the greatest artists of that time and those figures were carried with the
processions. The realism of this representation impressed people deeply
indeed ., and still today the Sevillanos are cheering the Holy Virgin of
their parish church in a way that is often hard to understand for
spectators.
Ahead of the procession comes a group of so-called Nazarenos, in long
gowns with hoods , behind them Penitents, with crosses on their shoulders,
then the figures of the Saints carried by Costaleros, each of whom has to
carry a weight of up to 100 kg. All those men are members of a Cofradia, a
brotherhood dedicating to organize one of those processions. There are 52
Cofradias in Seville.
Those processions are deeply impressing for the spectator, and thousands
of tourists come to Seville each year in Easter week.
All but different is Feria de Abril, taking place two weeks later.
Originally it was just a cattle-market, but through the years it turned
out to be one of the greatest popular festivities in Spain. You will have
the opportunity to see the typical flamenco dresses, which almost all
women, never mind their age, wear . Innumerable casetas , provisional
houses, are built on the terrain and decorated with colorful lamps. In the
morning arrive the landowners on horses or in horse-coaches . In the
afternoon starts a great party of Flamenco and sherry-wine in each Caseta
that will take all the night long . That is repeated day by day during an
entire week.
During this same week take place as well the most important bullfights in
town.
In the following weeks there are similar but of course much smaller Ferias
in many of the villages and towns around.
Another certainly attractive event for visitors is the Day of Inmaculada.
In the night from 7th to 8th of December come together all the Tunas (student's
fraternities in traditional medieval dresses) of the city - and many of
all the country - at the statue of the Virgin Inmaculada, between
cathedral and Alcazar, to perform their traditional songs.
The next morning takes place the Danza de los Seises in the cathedral, a
dance performance of children as well in traditional dresses.
At the evening of January, 5th there is the colorful Procession of the
three Magi, who pass on horse-coaches and give small presents and sweets
to the children.
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