Alhama de Murcia Semana Santa 2012

Alhama de Murcia, Semana Santa schedule of parades 30th March to 8th April

Semana Santa , Holy week or Easter week, is probably the most important week in the religious calendar within the Region of Murcia. Unlike the more subdued celebrations in the UK, Semana Santa in Murcia is a week of colourful processions, rows of penitents accompanying the pasos representing the last days in the life of Jesus throughout the streets of each town, enormous tronos bearing the sculptural representations adorned with flowers, their bearers swaying to the beat of throbbing drums as the parades pass between the crowds.

Semana Santa in Alhama  is an intimate event, Alhama being large enough to have a substantial number of impressive  pasos, 50 in total, belonging to 5 different Cofradías, yet not so large that it loses its own unique personality and the streets are the perfect width to create an intimate and spiritual atmosphere, comfortably accommodating the passing tronos without crushing the onlookers.
There are 10 different parades.

It also sounds the most peculiar thing to say, but the pasos are very pretty, with delicate, finely sculpted features, beautifully embroidered robes and the whole event has an almost ethereal air of tastefulness about it, mainly due to the quantity of flowers used in the decorations.
The flowers in Alhama are spectacular, particularly on resurrection Sunday, when the Cofradias join together in a triumphant explosion of colour, joy and scent, thrusting the flower-laden pasos sykywards in a fierce gesture of celebration at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its a very special place to be on this Sunday morning

The words Parroquia and Iglesia both mean churches. The parades all leave from the Iglesia of San Lázaro, ( Click Iglesia de San Lázaro) which is by the archaeological museum, and Parroquía de la Concepción, ( Click Parroquia de la Concepción) which is just behind Plaza de las Americas.

This is the schedule for the Alhama processions:

Thursday 30th March, the Night preceding Viernes de Dolores, 11.30pm

11.30pm . Serenata a Nuestra Senora de los Dolores

Casa Hermandad de Nstra Sra de los Dolores y de la Soledad

Atrium of the Iglesia de la Concepción, then following a route to la Soledad.

At just before midnight  the figures of Jesus and his mother, Mary meet at the entrance of the church, at the dawn of her special day, Viernes de Dolores.  The meeting is an occasion for music performed by the the Grupos folclóricos Villa de Alhama and the Virgen del Rosario to gather, along with the Banda de la Agrupación Musical de Alhama, along with most of the residents of Alhama.

 
  Friday 30th March 2012 (VIERNES DE DOLORES)

8pm Canto de Los Dolores de la Virgen

Sung by the Grupo de Coros y Danzas Virgen del Rosario in the Parroquía of san Lázaro Obispo

8.30pm Santa Misa in honour of Ntra Señora de los Doloresin the Parroquía de san Lázaro Obispo.

Procession of  NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOS DOLORES
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 9.30pm

Itinery La Feria, Empedrá, Plaza Vieja,  Larga, Jardín de los Mártires, Corredera, La Feria, Gil, Mellado, Sánchez Vivancos, Virgen del Rosario, San Lázaro Obispo.
Participants,  Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad.
This is the beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, which resides in the chapel of the church of San Lázaro all year round. She was made in 1949.


Sunday 1st April, Palm Sunday (DOMINGO DE RAMOS)
Blessing and procession of the palms from the Church of la Concepción to the  Parroquia de La concepción at 11.30am.
Palm Sunday Mass.

Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.12:00 h.       

 
Palm Sunday procession
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 18:00  h.

Itinery: La Feria, Corredera, Rambla Don Diego, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, Murcia, Sánchez Vivancos, Virgen de los Dolores, Ermita de la Virgen de los Dolores.
Participants  Hermandad de La Santa Mujer Verónica.

Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey, greeted ecstatically by the crowds. This is a lovely, family occasion.


Monday 2nd April, Holy Monday (LUNES SANTO)
Semana Santa concert given by the Agrupación Musical  de Alhama de Murcia.  

Parroquia( Church) de la Concepción. 20:30 h.

 Followed by the    

     
ESCENIFICACIÓN DEL PRENDIMIENTO DE JESÚS
( Representation of the capturing of Jesus.)

In the doorway of the Parroquia de la Concepción. 22:00  h.

 Followed by parade
Itinery; Parroquia de la Concepción (Huerto de los Olivos), Moreras, Plaza Vieja (Sanedrín), Empedrá y atrio de la Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo (Palacio de Pilatos).
Participants,  the  Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.

 
Tuesday 3rd March, Holy Tuesday (MARTES SANTO)    Click for report from 2011, Holy Tuesday Alhama de Murcia

Procession of all the Cofradias and Hermandades

Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 21:30 h.

Itinery: La Feria, Corredera, Rambla Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Plaza del Nazareno, Constantino López, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, La Feria, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.
The first of the larger processions, in which all aspects of the Holy Week are shown, from the betrayal of Judas, to the denial of Peter and the crucifixion of Jesus, with all 5 Cofradías participating.

 
Wednesday 4th April, Holy Wednesday (MIÉRCOLES SANTO)    
Procession by the COFRÁDIA DE SANTA MARÍA MAGDALENA

Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 9pm

Itinerary La Feria, Corredera, Rambla Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Constantino López, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, La Feria, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.
Participants; the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena.
The love of Mary Magdalene shines out in white and light, the purest of loves. There are three pasos.

Thursday 5th April, Holy Thursday   (JUEVES SANTO)

The last supper

Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 18.00 h.
Parroquia de la Concepción. 19.00 h. 

        
Procession of the Last Supper
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 19:30 h.

Itinery La Feria, Almirante Bastarreche, Vidal Abarca, Avda. España, Juan Carlos I, Constitución, Constantino López, Colón, Fuente Blanca.
Participants: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
8 pasos

Procession of silence
Parroquia de la Concepción. 22:15 h.
Itinerario: Rambla Don Diego, Corredera, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Constitución, Rambla de Don Diego, Parroquia de la Concepción.
Participants the  Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista. 4 pasos

The betrayal. First we see the disciples eating together at the last supper in the 7.30 procession, then at 10.15 the mood changes to shame and silence following his arrest. The lights are extinguished in the town, the procession files past in silence, atmospheric shame filling the air, tinged with the scent of incense , candles and betrayal.


Friday 6th April, Good Friday (VIERNES SANTO)
This is the big day for processions, with all the Cofradias participating in both morning and night-time processions. Today is the day to contemplate the crucifixion of Christ and the sacrifice he made that we might live.

 On this morning the Cofradias all follow different routes, joining together at 11am in the Plaza de la Concepcion. From there, they file back to San Lazaro together. At night-time is a big procession with 9 pasos in which all the Cofradías and Hermandades participate and is well worth attending.

Following the procession, the figure of Christ is taken fom the Church to the Calvery.

Procession El ENCUENTRO EN LA CALLE DE LA AMARGURA  
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo: 10.00 h.
Itinery
Hermandad de la Santa Mujer Verónica: La Feria, Empedrá, Plaza Vieja, Ingeniero Cerón, Moreras, Santerén, Valeros, Rambla Don Diego, Plaza de la Concepción.
Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena y Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: La Feria, Empedrá, Plaza Vieja, Ingeniero Cerón, Moreras y Plaza de la Concepción.
Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista y Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad: La Feria, Federico Servet, Postigos, Rambla de Don Diego y Plaza de la Concepción.  

The meeting of all the Cofradias: 11:00 h. Plaza de la Concepción.

Procession of return. PROCESIÓN DE REGRESO: 11:30 h.

Itinery: Rambla  Don Diego, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, Murcia, Sánchez Vivancos, Virgen del Rosario, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.
Participants: All the Cofradías and Hermandades.

Passion and death of Jesus
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 18:00
Parroquia de la Concepción. 17:00

Procession of the dead Lord.
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 21:30.

Itinery: La Feria, Corredera, Rambla  Don Diego, Concepción, Acequia Espuña, Florencio Javaloy, Constantino López, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, La Feria, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.

Participating: All the Cofradías and Hermandades. 9 pasos.

Following this, the image of Christ is moved to the Calvery, and many townspeople join in with this procession.
Following the end of the procession el Santo Entierro.
Itinery: Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo, Virgen del Rosario, Juan Carlos I, Los Pasos, Calvario.
Participating: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.

Saturday 7th April, Holy Saturday
Procession of the 7 words ( the denial of Peter and the tomb of Christ
Today is a day of mourning and the parade is silent.

Iglesia de san Lázaro Obispo, 7.45pm

Feria, Empedrá, Plaza Vieja, Larga, Corredera, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Constitución, Constantino López, Fuente Blanca.
Participating: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.

Easter vigil
Parroquia de San Lázaro. 23:00 h.
Parroquia de La Concepción. 23:00 h.

Sunday April 8th,  Resurrection Sunday, Easter Sunday  (DOMINGO DE RESURRECCIÓN)

Procession of the meeting of Jesus

Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo, 10.00 h.
 Again, the Cofradias take 3 different routes, leaving from the San Lazaro at 10am, before joining together in the Jardin de los Patos at 11am. This truly is one of the most joyous moments imaginable, as flowers, satins and colours mingle in a riot of colour and scent, joining together in celebration of the resurrection. Following the meeting, they all file back to San Lazaro together. Its a particularly special morning, for which Alhama is justifiably famous.

Itinery:
Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista y Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad: Virgen del Rosario, Sánchez Vivancos, Murcia, Juan Carlos I, Los Patos.
Hermandad de la Santa Mujer Verónica y Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena: La Feria, Federico Servet, Tomás Moro, Juan Carlos I, Los Patos.
Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: La Feria, Los Patos.

Meeting together in the Jardin de los Patos at 11am, then return to San Lazaro via the following itinery;
La Feria, Corredera, Rambla  Don Diego, San Francisco Javier, Plaza del Nazareno, Constantino López, Constitución, Juan Carlos I, La Feria, Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo.

Participating all the  Cofradías and  Hermandades.  

       
Mass
Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo. 19:30 h.
Parroquia de la Concepción. 20:00 h.

 NB Photos do not correspond exactly to the days next to which they are shown.