2. THE MOST IMPORTANT CATHOLIC HOLIDAY IS
COMMEMORATED WITH A WEEK FULL OF COLOR, ART,
RELIGIOUS FERVOR, AND PROCESSIONS.
THE MOST SPECTACULAR EVENTS ARE PARADES AND
RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS DEPICTING BIBLICAL SCENES.
3. THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN ON PALM SUNDAY (DOMINGO DE RAMOS)
AND LAST UNTIL EASTER MONDAY (LUNES DE PASCUA), WITH THE
MOST DRAMATIC AND PASSIONATE PARADES HELD ON MAUNDY
THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY.
PALM SUNDAY
5. MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY
PROCESSIONS. ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURES IS THE PRESENCE OF “PASOS”( HUGE ORNATE FLOATS THAT ARE
CARRIED THROUGH THE STREETS BY CHURCH MEMBERS). THESE REMARKABLE “PASOS” DEPICTING SCENES FROM THE PASSION
ARE ACCOMPANIED BY GROUPS OF PENITENTS WEARING LONG DARK ROBES AND WOMEN IN BLACK , PLAYING DRUMS OR
HOLDING LIT CANDLES.
FROM TIME TO TIME, THE SILENCE IS BROKEN BY SPONTANEOUS “SAETAS ” (TYPICAL SPANISH RELIGIOUS MUSIC WITH
FLAMENCO INFLUENCES,
6. EASTER SATURDAY
ON THE MORNING OF EASTER SATURDAY, IN TUDELA, THE ”VOLATÍN “ ENDLESSLY SWIRLS AROUND IN LOS FUEROS
SQUARE UNTIL ITS APPAREL FALL IN RAGS AMONGST THE CROWD OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO EAGERLY AWAIT
THE BALLOONS AND SWEETS THAT FALL FROM THE ”CASA DEL RELOJ,” THE CLOCK TOWER.
AT 10AM ON HOLY SATURDAY THE VOLATÍN
(A WOODEN/RAG DOLL WITH A CIGAR/FIREWORK IN ITS MOUTH)
IS PUBLICLY SHAKEN AND BURNED.
ONCE SET ALIGHT, THE DOLL IS SHAKEN AND SHAKEN
UNTIL IT FALLS TO THE GROUND, DESTROYED.
IT IS A SIMPLE CEREMONY THAT COMMEMORATES
THE SUICIDE OF JUDAS, THE APOSTLE WHO BETRAYED
JESUS TO THE ROMANS.
7. HOLY SUNDAY
THE EASTER SUNDAY IS CELEBRATED IN TUDELA WITH THE ”BAJADA DEL ÁNGEL ”– THE DESCENT OF THE ANGEL,
A CEREMONY IN WHICH A CHILD DESCENDS THROUGH THE AIR TO REMOVE THE MOURNING VEIL
THAT COVERS THE VIRGIN MARY’S FACE.
FESTIVAL OF NATIONAL TOURIST INTEREST
AT 9AM ON EASTER SUNDAY IS THE ”BAJADA DEL ÁNGEL”, THAT BRINGS TOGETHER
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN PLAZA DE LOS FUEROS SQUARE. A CHILD DRESSED AS AN ANGEL
FLIES THROUGH THE AIR TOWARDS A STATUE OF THE VIRGIN MARY,
WHOSE HEAD IS COVERED BY A BLACK CLOTH, A SIGN OF MOURNING FOR THE DEATH OF JESUS.
THE ANGEL REMOVES THE CLOTH, AN EXPRESSION OF JOY FOR THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
8. IT IS A GREAT HONOUR FOR A
TUDELAN CITIZEN TO BE CHOSEN
AS AN ANGEL.
IN OUR SCHOOL WE HAVE A GIRL
WHO WAS ANGEL WHEN SHE WAS 6.
SHE VISITED US AN EXPLAIN THE
PROCESS OF BEING CHOSEN, THE
TRAINING SESSIONS AND HER
EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SUNDAY.
9. IN OUR SCHOOL WE CELEBRATE AN EASTER HUNT PARTY
EVERY YEAR. THIS IS A TRADITION BORROWED FROM
ANGLOSAXON COUNTRIES. WE WEAR SPECIAL GLASSES TO
FOLLOW THE EASTER BUNNY TRACKS UNTIL WE FIND ITS
BASKET FULL OF EASTER EGG. YUMMY, YUMMY!
