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| DISC ONE The Dancing Church of Africa ¡Fiesta! Celebrations at San Fernando Cathedral Holy Week in Spain Los Seises de Sevilla DISC TWO The Dancing Church of Polynesia The Dancing Church of Melanesia Tewa Buffalo Dance of Blessing | |
From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, fifty seven brotherhoods (Cofrad’as) bear heavy floats (pasos) portraying images of Jesus and Mary to the Giralda, the Cathedral of Seville. Most brotherhoods carry two floats, one depicting a scene with Jesus between the Last Supper and The Resurrection, and a second covered float with a weeping Virgin Mary. To the accompaniment of bands, the cofrad’as advance slowly through the streets, from their home church to the Cathedral and back, taking the shortest possible route, in accordance with the 17th century decree of Cardenal Ni–o de Guevara. The event is organized so that each group passes through the Cathedral at a designated time. The processions consequently start and finish through the afternoon and night according to the travel time to the Cathedral. With their roots in old medieval brotherhoods, the cofrad’as symbolise the counter-reformation movement in Spain. Responding to those who were against using images in Church, they bring the Catholic interpretation of the passion and death of Christ onto the streets in a theatrical way that townfolk understand. Most of the cofrad’as first appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries, their purpose being pious and charitable: doing penance, looking after the old and infirm. Brothers originally came from professional groups and more recently, they comprise a broader cross-section of society. Los Nazarenos walk ahead of the pasos, two-abreast, carrying candles, wearing full-length tunics, and distinct head-dress, the antifaz comprising a tall spire-like hat and a piece of cloth covering the face. The tall hat is difficult to wear and the Nazarenos hold on to their face cover to keep it in place. The Penitentes act out penitence by carrying a wooden cross; some walking barefoot the whole distance of the procession. Penitentes are dressed like the Nazarenos, but they do not have a cardboard cone in the head-dress which leaves the upper part of the hood hanging backwards. The penitents follow directly after el Paso del Cristo. The twenty costaleros who bear the floats each carry up to 200 pounds. Directed by El Capataz, who ensures that the float is carried in accordance with tradition, through the crowds of on-lookers. The Capataz will guide the float out of the narrow Church doorway, through twisting alleys to the Cathedral and back, letting the costaleros know with a tap when to lift and set down. The costaleros are well drilled and maintain a slow, graceful pace that allows the figures to sway with such a gentle resonance that the figures are given a life of their own. At times the Paso is made to "dance" to a special piece of music, much to the delight of the crowds. Teams of costaleros take turn over the course of the procession. The" pasos", floats, are adorned in gold and silver, with elaborately embroidered cloth, candles and flowers. There are typically two floats, the first is Jesus in a scene leading up to The Resurrection, and the second, the weeping Virgin Mary, known as the La Dolorosa (sadness), La Esperanza ( hope) or La Amargura (bitterness). Each float is accompanied by members of the brotherhood with its own band, playing familiar, ritual pieces. In Barcelona, we join on Easter Sunday after Mass in the plaza of the Cathedral as the local people dance The Sardana, the traditional folk dance of Catalunya. Seville, Spain Examples of the Holy Week Procession with penitentes, nazarenos and the "pasos", floats. Barcelona, Spain Easter Sunday Š The Sardana Dance |
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