Easter

Easter week is known in Spain as Semana Santa (Holy Week) and begins on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and ends on Lunes de Pascua (Easter Monday).  It is the most important religious celebration in Spain. 

Processions of statues depicting scenes from the Passion and the Virgin Mary occur throughout the week with the main procession on Good Friday.   In some of the processions marchers wear clothes reminiscent of the klu klux klan.  In fact their clothes are meant to depict the Nazareños, people from Nazareth. The religious fraternities and hermandades (brotherhoods) are responsible for carrying the statues and organising the penitents and musicians. The Nazareños follow the people who carry the floats bearing sculptures and models of biblical scenes.  These are called costaleros and are expected the carry these tronos (thrones) with solemnity and grace. They use a small cushion, "costal" to protect themselves from the wood rubbing against their skin during the long processions.  Some parade in bare feet with manacled and chained ankles.

The largest procession in Tenerife takes place in the old capital of San Cristobal de La Laguna.