This week in Sevilla is Semana Santa. This is the single most important week for the city, i guess some can argue it's Feria, but i'll give you my take on that when it comes. The week prior to Easter, Sevilla celebrates with a multitude of religious events. All schools are out for the week and many jobs alter their working hours to fit some of the scheduled events. Processions take place daily, where hermandades (religious brotherhood) from each district take a specific route to the Cathedral. In this parade looking scenario, men, women and children of all ages dress as Nazarenos lead the way to the Cathedral. Nazarenos wear long pointed hoods where their colors, forms, and details are distinctive for each brotherhood. The center of each procession is the wooden floats taken from each church o the Cathedral.there are two floats, one of Jesus Christ and the other one of Virgin Mary. These are referred as "el paso." They are luxuriously decorated and they can get so heavy that there are usually 30 below it carrying them. you can imagine how hard it is to synchronize such a walk, so the men start practicing weeks in advance. Late at night, i would pass the Cathedral and they would be practicing with their conductor and following the specific steps given to them since they can't see anything. During the day JC and the Virgin make their way to the Cathedral where every couple of seconds they stop, and everyone takes pictures. With "el paso" and the Nazarenos, there is also a band from the district that plays religious hymns to the steps. There are o many Nazarenos that they pass by pairs. THe walk can be long, specially stopping every 3-5 minutes that they carry candy with them in their pockets both for themselves to eat and also for the kids in the crowds. Little kids extend their arm and wait for the Nazarenos that pass by and give them candy. I came to find out in a very awkward way that people dress up very formal to go to this event. I mean people were wearing super fancy clothes to be standing on an unpaved road with thousands of people around them for hours. You could really tell who were tourist just based on shoe choice.

All week different pasos will take place from all different parts of the city; all arriving to the Cathedral and then walking back to their own church at night. This is quiet the event and it something special to get to experience.