Semana Santa in Calasparra

The Easter Week schedule of events in Calasparra

Processions have been taking place in Calasparra in celebration of Semana Santa since the 15th century, an estimated 25% of the entire population of the town involved in the events in one way or another during the important celebrations of Easter week.

There are five "Cofradías" or brotherhoods involved in the organization of the events, and most of the "pasos" (or sculpted figures) are new. This is due to the majority of the older ones having been destroyed during the Civil War betewen 1936 and 1939 and the Peninsular War in the early 19th century.

Figures paraded by the Antiquísima Cofradía del Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre

Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre (1944, José Díez, Valencia)

Santa Mujer Verónica (1943, José Díez, Valencia)

La Caída (1956, José Zamorano, Hellín)

La Piedad (1952, Talleres de Olot)

Ángel Alegórico (1985, Damián Guirado, Calasparra)
Santa Cruz

Figures paraded by the Cofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno

Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (17th century, anonymous, attributed to the school of Salzillo)

San Pedro (1944, José Díez, Valencia)

Yacente (19th century, anonymous)

Sagrado Corazón Resucitado (1950, Talleres de Olot)

Figures paraded by the Real Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista y la Dolorosa.

San Juan (1944, José Díez, Valencia)

La Dolorosa (1944, José Díez, Valencia)

Dulce Nombre de María (1998, Juan José Páez Álvarez, Calasparra)

La Soledad, (1996, Juan José Álvarez Buendía, Calasparra)

Figures paraded by the Cofradía de la Samaritana

La Samaritana (1944, José Díez, Valencia)

Santa María Magdalena (2004, Juan José Páez Álvarez, Calasparra)

Figures paraded by the Cofradía del Ecce-Homo

Ecce-Homo (1944, José Díez, Valencia)

Santa María Salomé (1996, Juan José Páez Álvarez, Calasparra)

Semana Santa in Calasparra follows the standard pattern of processions in most towns, telling the story of the last week in the life of Christ, and includes an interesting representation of the capture of Jesus in the Gardens of Gethsemene, known here as "El prendimiento de Jesús en el Huerto de los Olivos."

A theatrical representation takes place in the street, in the Parque del Prendimiento, starring "Las Picas", a squadron of Roman Soldiers given the task of arresting Jesus.

The same group also star in a unique event on the morning of the day of Resurrection: having been given the responsibility of guarding the tomb of Jesus, they flee upon seeing the image of Jesús Resuscitado, trying to hide as they are pursued and cornered by the Virgen de la Dolorosa.

Processions:

Viernes de Dolores (the Friday before Palm Sunday): Vía Crucis

The Paso of El Cristo de la Sangre parades in a Vía Crucis, with the brotherhood of the same name, accompanied by the sound of a single drum.

Route: Juan Ramón Jiménez, Poeta Miguel Hernández, Lavador, Manzano, Goya, Los Santos, Aurora, La Virgen, Mayor, Plaza de la Constitución, Iglesia de San Pedro.

Domingo de Ramos, Palm Sunday

9.00: Mass in the church of Los Santos Mártires

11.00: Blessing of the palms and olive branches in the church of Los Santos Mártires, followed by a procession to the church of La Merced.

Route: Plaza de los Santos, Los Santos, Vázquez, Lavador, Teniente Flomesta, Juan Ramón Jiménez.

On the same day the figure of Ecce-Homo is transferred into the town from his sanctuary and during the procession there is an "encuentro" (meeting) with the figure of the Virgen de la Dolorosa.

17.00: Mass in the church of Ecce-Homo, followed by the procession to the town. Route: Germán Galindo, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Plaza de la Corredera, Salzillo, Mayor, Constitución, arrival at the  Iglesia de San Pedro at around 20.00.

Pasos: The Ecce Homo and La Dolorosa.

Holy Tuesday, Martes Santo

20.30: Transfer of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. Route: Calle Huerto, Músico José Moreno, Antonio Machado, Gran Vía Vieja , Constitución al Templo de San Pedro.

Miercoles Santo, Holy Wednesday: the taking of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene

22.00: Representation in the street, ending with the appearance of the figures of Jesus and Saint Peter.

Procession route: Parque del Prendimiento, García Lorca, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Corredera, Salzillo, Mayor, Constitución, to the church of San Pedro.

Pasos: San Pedro and Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno

Maundy Thursday, Jueves Santo

21.30: a procession in which all the Cofradías participate.

Route: Church of San Pedro Apóstol, Plaza de la Constitución, Mayor, Lavador, Teniente Flomesta, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Corredera, Salzillo, Mayor, Constitución to the Templo de San Pedro.

Pasos:

1.    Samaritana

2.    Ecce Homo

3.    Caída

4.    Santísima Virgen de la Soledad

Viernes Santo, Good Friday

10.00: Procession arade of the journey to Calvary, in which all the Cofradías participate.

Route: Church of San Pedro Apóstol, Plaza de la Constitución, Mayor, Lavador, Ordónez, Higinio García, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Plaza de la Corredera, Salzillo, Mayor, Constitución to the church of San Pedro.

Pasos:

1.    Samaritana

2.    Ecce Homo

3.    San Pedro

4.    Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno

5.    Santa Mujer Verónica

6.    Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre

7.    San Juan Evangelista

8.    La Dolorosa

21.30: Procession of the Santo Entierro, featuring the figures of La Piedad, San Juan Evangelista, Santo Sepulcro and La Dolorosa.

Route: Plaza de la Constitución, Mayor, Lavador, Teniente Flomesta, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Plaza de la Corredera, Salzillo, Mayor, Constitución and back to the church of San Pedro.

23.00: Midnight vigil in the church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

Resurrection Sunday, Domingo de Resurrección

In the Plaza de la Constitución the appearance of Jesus Arisen takes place, followed by flight of the Romans.

9.00: Mass in the church of Los Santos Mártires

10.30: Procession of the Resurrection.

Pasos:

1.    El Resucitado

2.    San Pedro

3.    Ángel Alegórico

4.    Santa Cruz

5.    Santa María Salomé

6.    San Juan Evangelista

7.    La Dolorosa

Route: Plaza de la Constitución, Mayor, Cervantes, Vázquez, Lavador, Teniente Flomesta, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Plaza de la Corredera (where the encuentro between the Resucitado and La Dolorosa takes place), Salzillo, Mayor, Constitución and back to the church of San Pedro.    

11.00: Resurrection Mass in the church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

The Sunday following Easter

10.30: Transfer of the image of Ecce Homo from San Pedro to its own church. Upon arrival a Misa Huertana (musical Mass), is held.