Semana Santa is Holy Week leading up to Easter in Spain. Processions travel through streets displaying images from the Passion of Christ to local churches. Brotherhoods organize these processions, with members called Nazarenos dressed in robes carrying candles. Large floats called Pasos depicting biblical scenes are moved through the streets by costaleros workers. It is an important religious tradition celebrated in a solemn manner by the Spanish people.

1. Semana Santa Webquest Nombre_____________
Answer the following 3 questions in English based on your own knowledge.
1. What is the origin of the holiday known as Easter?
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.
2. How do some people here in the U.S celebrate Easter? (secular and religious)
In the United States, most people celebrate Easter by attending Church with family and
having special family dinners after Church. However, the tradition of the Easter Bunny
has also become associated with the Easter season.
3. What do you know about how it is celebrated in Spain?
All I know about Easter traditions in Spain is that it is a major holiday because of the
importance of Jesus Christ in the predominately Catholic region.
Now answer these specific questions by reading at:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semana_Santa_en_Sevilla
Type your answers in a different color.
4. What does Semana Santa mean?
La Semana Santa means “Holy Week.”
5. When is it?
La Semana Santa is the week leading up to Easter.
6. Where are the processions going and why?
The processions are led through the streets displaying images of The Passion and end
at their respective churches and cathedrals.
7. What are brotherhoods and what is their purpose?
The brotherhoods are religious members and are responsible for organizing the
processions. They often walk wearing hooded robes in front of the floats.
8. What happens during Semana Santa?
Many people focus more on their religion, but the most important of all events is the
procession of the pasos, or floats, along with music and religious celebration to local
churches.
9. Who are Nazarenos and how are they dressed?
Nazarenos are members of a certain brotherhood that walk in silence carrying candles
during the processions.
10. What is at the beginning of the processions? In the middle?
The Great Cross is carried at the beginning followed by the Nazarenos and the Pasos.
11. What is a Paso?
A paso is a float that depicts scenes from The Passion.
12. What are 3 possible pasos? How old are some of them?
The three possible Pasos are scenes of The Passion, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary.
13. Who are costaleros and what do they do?

2. Semana Santa Webquest Nombre_____________
Costaleros are responsible for moving, lifting, and lowering the Pasos during the
procession.
14. What is the traditional dress of women for this? for men?
Women typically wear black dress and shoes, but on Maundy Thursday, they also wear
what is called La Mantilla, a cultural headdress. Men typically wear black or dark suits.
15. How do people behave as the processions go past?
Most people remain silent out of respect for the sacred holiday.
Look at the various photographs/slide shows at these 2 sites to see more:
• http://semanasantaonline.com/
• http://gospain.about.com/od/semanasantaeaster/ss/semana_santa_3.htm
16. What is your impression and why? (3-4 thoughtful sentences with insight)
La Semana Santa is a very important celebration and is widely celebrated by many
people in Spanish countries. Being a very sacred tradition, many people celebrate and
pay tribute to these customs.
Children and Easter
Read at this website, then answer the following questions.
• http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/cascarones.html
17. What are cascarones?
Cascarones are confetti filled eggs
that children play with during
carnival.
18. In which countries are they played
with?
Cascarones are played with in
countries such as Spain and even
parts of Southwestern United
States.
19. How are you to break them?
You break the eggs over your head.
20. Why do you break them?
Breaking the eggs is supposed
to bring much luck and good fortune.

3. Semana Santa Webquest Nombre_____________
¡Felices Pascuas!