article_detail
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • WEEKLY BULLETIN
  • Region
  • Águilas
  • Alhama de Murcia
  • Jumilla
  • Lorca
  • Los Alcázares
  • Mazarrón
  • San Javier
  • ALL AREAS & TOWNS
    • AREAS
    • SOUTH WEST
    • MAR MENOR
    • MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
    • NORTH & NORTH WEST
    • TOWNS
    • Abanilla
    • Abarán
    • Aguilas
    • Alamillo
    • Alcantarilla
    • Aledo
    • Alhama de Murcia
    • Archena
    • Balsicas
    • Blanca
    • Bolnuevo
    • Bullas
    • Cañadas del Romero
    • Cabo de Palos
    • Calasparra
    • Camping Bolnuevo
    • Campo De Ricote
    • Camposol
    • Canada De La Lena
    • Caravaca de la Cruz
    • Cartagena
    • Cehegin
    • Ceuti
    • Cieza
    • Condado de Alhama
    • Corvera
    • Costa Cálida
    • Cuevas De Almanzora
    • Cuevas de Reyllo
    • El Carmoli
    • El Mojon
    • El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
    • El Pareton / Cantareros
    • El Raso
    • El Valle Golf Resort
    • Fortuna
    • Fuente Alamo
    • Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
    • Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
    • Isla Plana
    • Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
    • Jumilla
    • La Azohia
    • La Charca
    • La Manga Club
    • La Manga del Mar Menor
    • La Pinilla
    • La Puebla
    • La Torre
    • La Torre Golf Resort
    • La Unión
    • Las Palas
    • Las Ramblas
    • Las Ramblas Golf
    • Las Torres de Cotillas
    • Leiva
    • Librilla
    • Lo Pagan
    • Lo Santiago
    • Lorca
    • Lorquí
    • Los Alcázares
    • Los Balcones
    • Los Belones
    • Los Canovas
    • Los Nietos
    • Los Perez (Tallante)
    • Los Urrutias
    • Los Ventorrillos
    • Mar De Cristal
    • Mar Menor
    • Mar Menor Golf Resort
    • Mazarrón
    • Mazarrón Country Club
    • Molina de Segura
    • Moratalla
    • Mula
    • Murcia City
    • Murcia Property
    • Pareton
    • Peraleja Golf Resort
    • Perin
    • Pilar de la Horadada
    • Pinar de Campoverde
    • Pinoso
    • Playa Honda
    • Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
    • Pliego
    • Portmán
    • Pozo Estrecho
    • Puerto de Mazarrón
    • Puerto Lumbreras
    • Puntas De Calnegre
    • Region of Murcia
    • Ricote
    • Roda
    • Roldan
    • Roldan and Lo Ferro
    • San Javier
    • San Pedro del Pinatar
    • Santiago de la Ribera
    • Sierra Espuña
    • Sucina
    • Tallante
    • Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
    • Torre Pacheco
    • Totana
    • What's On Weekly Bulletin
    • Yecla


  • Home
  • Areas
    • SOUTH WEST
    • MAR MENOR
    • MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
    • NORTH & NORTH WEST
  • Towns
    • Abanilla
    • Abarán
    • Aguilas
    • Alamillo
    • Alcantarilla
    • Aledo
    • Alhama de Murcia
    • Archena
    • Balsicas
    • Blanca
    • Bolnuevo
    • Bullas
    • Cañadas del Romero
    • Cabo de Palos
    • Calasparra
    • Camping Bolnuevo
    • Campo De Ricote
    • Camposol
    • Canada De La Lena
    • Caravaca de la Cruz
    • Cartagena
    • Cehegin
    • Ceuti
    • Cieza
    • Condado de Alhama
    • Corvera
    • Costa Cálida
    • Cuevas De Almanzora
    • Cuevas de Reyllo
    • El Carmoli
    • El Mojon
    • El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
    • El Pareton / Cantareros
    • El Raso
    • El Valle Golf Resort
    • Fortuna
    • Fuente Alamo
    • Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
    • Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
    • Isla Plana
    • Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
    • Jumilla
    • La Azohia
    • La Charca
    • La Manga Club
    • La Manga del Mar Menor
    • La Pinilla
    • La Puebla
    • La Torre
    • La Torre Golf Resort
    • La Unión
    • Las Palas
    • Las Ramblas
    • Las Ramblas Golf
    • Las Torres de Cotillas
    • Leiva
    • Librilla
    • Lo Pagan
    • Lo Santiago
    • Lorca
    • Lorquí
    • Los Alcázares
    • Los Balcones
    • Los Belones
    • Los Canovas
    • Los Nietos
    • Los Perez (Tallante)
    • Los Urrutias
    • Los Ventorrillos
    • Mar De Cristal
    • Mar Menor
    • Mar Menor Golf Resort
    • Mazarrón
    • Mazarrón Country Club
    • Molina de Segura
    • Moratalla
    • Mula
    • Murcia City
    • Murcia Property
    • Pareton
    • Peraleja Golf Resort
    • Perin
    • Pilar de la Horadada
    • Pinar de Campoverde
    • Pinoso
    • Playa Honda
    • Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
    • Pliego
    • Portmán
    • Pozo Estrecho
    • Puerto de Mazarrón
    • Puerto Lumbreras
    • Puntas De Calnegre
    • Region of Murcia
    • Ricote
    • Roda
    • Roldan
    • Roldan and Lo Ferro
    • San Javier
    • San Pedro del Pinatar
    • Santiago de la Ribera
    • Sierra Espuña
    • Sucina
    • Tallante
    • Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
    • Torre Pacheco
    • Totana
    • What's On Weekly Bulletin
    • Yecla
  • Murcia News
  • Weather &
    Climate Change
  • What's On &
    Where To Go
    • What's On
    • Where To Go
    • Daily Events Diary
  • Motoring
    & Travel
    • All Motoring & Travel News
    • Driving In Spain
    • Spanish Motoring Laws
  • Lifestyle
    • Murcia LifeStyle
    • Sporting & Leisure
    • Murcia LifeStyle
    • Sporting & Leisure
    • Tips for Expats
    • Murcia Community
    • Tips for Expats
    • Murcia Community
  • Property News
    • Murcia Property News
    • All Murcia Property
    • Murcia Property Sales
    • Murcia Property Rentals
    • Legal & Financial
    • Murcia Property News
    • All Murcia Property
    • Murcia Property Sales
    • Murcia Property Rentals
    • Legal & Financial
  • Spanish News
  • EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Alicante Today Andalucia Today
article_detail

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia


Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

One of the highlights of Semana Santa in Alhama de Murcia

The Semana Santa processions in Alhama de Murcia may not be as well known or as majestic as those in Lorca, Cartagena and the city of Murcia, but the town is large enough for their to be numerous "pasos" or religious figures paraded in the streets, and at the same time small enough to offer a heartfelt welcome and an enveloping experience where community and participation are more important than putting on a show.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

The Tuesday procession sets out from the church of San Lázaro, where the Plaza provides an atmospheric backdrop with softly mellowed brickwork and warm smooth stone creating a timeless feel to the procession. The parade includes all of the Cofradías (or Brotherhoods), of which there are five in Alhama, the Morados (purple), Azules (blue), Colorados (red), Blancos (white) and Negros (black),owning more than 50 pasos or sculptural pieces etween them.

Each has what is known as a Titular, a leading statue which is the main figure around which the brotherhood revolves, and in Alhama these figureheads are Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, Verónica, María Magdalena, San Juan Evangelista and the Virgen de los Dolores, affiliations which are often repeated across the Region of Murcia.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

Semana Santa in Alhama has been declared of Regional Tourism Interest, and the processions are a tradition which dates back to the 17th century. The Paso Negro, the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad, appears in an early form within a book held within the municipal archive which is dated 1635, although the cult which evolved into the paso as it is today doesn't appear in the archives until 1737, a date by which the Paso Morado, The Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno is also known to have existed.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

In the early 1920's the other 3 Cofradías are known to have been participating in Semana Santa acts, but the blight of the Civil War (1936-39) devastated Alhama, leaving a decimated heritage and destruction in its wake, and the traditions of Semana Santa were interrupted until the mid 1940's. The precious sculptural heritage of Alhama de Murcia was nearly all destroyed, burnt during the anti-clerical wave of the conflict, amd just a precious few pieces survived, for the most part hidden by citizens who couldn't bear to see the pieces they held in such high esteem destroyed.

There are pieces right across the Region which bear the signs of varnish darkened by smoke as they were snatched from burning churches by parishioners and hidden in barns and farmyards during the Civil War, and others which have new robes or just the head and hands survived, the remainder replaced after the war.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

One such figure in Alhama is that of the Mujer Verónica, owned by the Paso Colorado, her salvation the source of many popular legends. Some say she was in the home of private individuals when the remainder were burnt, and was concealed in a hidden chamber until danger had passed. Others say that to conceal her better the body was cut in half and hidden in two pieces, but that only the top part survived: still others say that she is all original and was never cut in two. Regardless of the legends, the Veronica who participates in these Semana Santa processions is a lucky survivor and goes forth as a whole piece, one of only two original pasos.

Following the horrors of the war the traditions were gradually reinstated, starting in 1946. Since then the Cofradías have been slowly replacing their lost heritage with new pieces, a painstakingly slow process due to the cost of acquiring new sculptures.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

But the real joy of Semana Santa in Alhama lies not in the works of religious art, but in the participation of all ages, babes in arms sporting the tunics of the Cofradía they were born into. Barely able to walk, fledgling Nazarenos toddle along the streets dispensing sweets to onlookers, little stomachs bulging under the weight of sweets stuffed inside their tunics, merrily munching the booty as the paso sways along the street behind them, the air ringing with cries of "Viva la Virgen!" and the melodic shuffle of leather on marble, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

It's a passage made more intimate by the narrow streets of the old town centre, even though on this Tuesday night procession some of the pasos are carried on mechanical platforms rather than by human bearers, the ever practical people of Alhama having very cleverly purchased mechanical bearers which sway to imitate the real thing as they make their way along the circular route back to the church.

Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday in Alhama de Murcia

Click here for details of the whole of Semana Santa in Alhama, including the famous Easter morning parade!

For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today. 


article_detail

article_detail
Find more information by AREA, TOWN or URBANISATION .....
The Mar Menor
Cabo de Palos
Cartagena
El Carmoli
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Puebla
La Torre Golf Resort
La Union
Los Alcazares
Los Belones
Los Nietos
Los Urrutias
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Pilar de la Horadada
Playa Honda / Playa Paraiso
Portman
Roldan and Lo Ferro
San Javier
San Pedro del Pinatar
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
Torre Pacheco
South West Murcia
Aguilas
Aledo
Alhama de Murcia
Bolnuevo
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
Fuente Alamo
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Lorca
Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto Lumbreras
Sierra Espuna
Totana
North & North West Murcia
Bullas
Calasparra
Caravaca de la Cruz
Cehegin
Cieza
Fortuna
Jumilla
Moratalla
Mula
Yecla
Murcia Central
Abanilla
Abaran
Alcantarilla
Archena
Blanca
Corvera
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Lorqui
Molina de Segura
Mosa Trajectum
Murcia City
Peraleja Golf Resort
Ricote
Sucina
Urbanisations
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Torre Golf Resort
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Mazarron Country Club
Mosa Trajectum
Peraleja Golf Resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
La Zenia
Lomas de Cabo Roig Town Page
Important Topics:

AFS WindfoilsCAMPOSOL TODAY Whats OnCartagena SpainCoronavirusCorvera Airport MurciaMurcia Gota Fria 2019Murcia propertyParamount Theme Park MurciaWeekly Bulletin
Contact Murcia Today: Editorial 966 260 896 / Office 968 018 268
Direct Payment | Terms And Conditons | Privacy Policy | Legal | About Us | Advertise With Us


To be listed on the CAMPOSOL TODAY MAP please call +34 968 018 268.
To be listed on the CONDADO TODAY MAP please call +34 968 018 268.
Guidelines for submitting articles to Camposol Today

Hello, and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event.

Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia, providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area, which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia.

When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today, please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible:

Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com

Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc

Include all relevant points, including:

Who is the organisation running the event?

Where is it happening?

When?

How much does it cost?

Is it necessary to book beforehand, or can people just show up on the day?

…but try not to exceed 300 words

Also attach a photo to illustrate your article, no more than 100kb