Holy Week in Viveiro (''Semana Santa de Viveiro'') is one of the most important traditional events of
Viveiro,
Spain. It is celebrated in the week leading up to
Easter (
Holy Week among Christians), and is one of the best known religious events within
Galicia
Galicia may refer to:
Geographic regions
* Galicia (Spain), a region and autonomous community of northwestern Spain
** Gallaecia, a Roman province
** The post-Roman Kingdom of the Suebi, also called the Kingdom of Gallaecia
** The medieval King ...
. As a reflection of its importance, is also considered as a
Fiesta of International Tourist Interest of Spain since 2013.
This week features the
procession of ''pasos'', floats of lifelike wooden
sculptures of individual scenes of the events of
the Passion, or images of the
Virgin Mary showing restrained grief for the torture and killing of her son. Some of the sculptures are of great antiquity and are considered artistic masterpieces, as well as being culturally and spiritually important to the local Catholic population.
During Holy Week, the city is crowded with residents and visitors, drawn by the spectacle and atmosphere. The impact is particularly strong for the
Catholic community. The processions are organised by ''hermandades'' and ''cofradías'', religious brotherhoods. During the processions, members precede the ''pasos'', dressed in penitential robes. They may also be accompanied by
brass bands.
The processions work along a designated route from their home churches and chapels, usually via a central viewing area and back. As of 2011, a total of 15 processions are scheduled for the week, from the previous Friday to
Palm Sunday through to
Easter Sunday afternoon.
See also
*
Viveiro
*
Holy Week in Spain
*
Fiestas of International Tourist Interest of Spain
The title of Fiesta of International Tourist Interest is an honorary distinction that is given in Spain by the ''General Secretariat of Tourism of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade of the Government of Spain'' to the fiestas or events inv ...
References
;Notes:
;Bibliography:
* Adrán Goás, Carlos; Kawamura Kawamura, Yayoi; Pardo de Cela, Santiago F. (2001) (in Spanish). Cruces parroquiales de la ribera del Landro. Fundación Caixa Galicia.
*Chao Espina, Enrique (1988) (en español). Historia de Viveiro (Documentos para a historia contemporánea de Galicia). Ediciós do Castro. .
*Donapetry Yribarnegaray, Juan (1953) (in Spanish). Historia de Vivero y su concejo. Diputación Provincial de Lugo. .
*Fernández García, M. Begoña (2000) (in Spanish). La imaginería religiosa en la Semana Santa de Viveiro. .
*VV.AA. (2008) (in Spanish). La Semana Santa en Galicia. Hércules de Ediciones. .
External links
SemanaSantaViveiro.com- Holy Week in Viveiro official website
{{Authority control
Viveiro
Tourist attractions in Galicia (Spain)