Rows upon rows of hooded penitents carry crosses and candles while young men carry the elaborate floats upon their shoulders, moving to the beat of the soulful music played by brass and percussion bands.
While the tradition has taken on a more festive tone in much of Spain, Salamanca's Semana Santa maintains an unique atmosphere of austeriy and meditation which makes for an extremely moving experience.
One of the most unique traditions of Salamanca's Semana Santa is on Holy Thursday with a ceremony featuring a mix of the academic and the liturgical.
Another featured tradition of the Salamanca Semana Santa is called the "Descent of Christ", held on Good Friday. On Good Friday, all of the city's convents and churches remain open all day.
On the Monday following Easter, called "Water Monday", friends and family meet at the river's shores in what is essentially a huge picnic.
Semana Santa History:
Following the death of Christ, the next important date in the history of Salamanca's Semana Santa is in 1240, when the city's first "cofradÃa," or brotherhood, was formed. Originally called "Los Hermanos de la Penitencia en Cristo," (The Brothers of Penitence in Christ), the religious group would later become the "CofradÃa de la Santa Cruz" (Brotherhood of the Holy Cross), a brotherhood that continues to exist and partake in the celebrations today.
Here is a site where you can find photos of Semana Santa...
http://www.dlwaldron.com/HolyWeekWeb2/index.html#procession2
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