La Union Semana Santa 2012

La Unión, Vía Crucis from the Mina Agrupa Vicenta 31st March and Saeta Competition

La Union has a very interesting Semana Santa tradition which is unique within the region, a singing competition, the songs being Saetas, which takes place on Thursday evening and  a very special torchlit Vía Crucis which winds down from the Mina Agrupa Vicente into the town below.

( Click to read report following the first Vía Crucis, Click la Unión Via Crucis , Cristo de los Mineros)

Because of its long history as a mining town, many of its traditions are related to its mining past, reflecting the dangers the miners would have faced as part of their everyday life. Mining was dangerous, dirty and physically exhausting work , with much of the life of a miner spent in the darkness underground.

La Union has its own special Christ, Christ of the miners, which is paraded in the Maundy Thursday procession and stops at various points around the town to be serenaded by the inhabitants.

The songs they sing are saetas, a form of song going back through the centuries, which are performed throughout the region during Semana Santa. Theyre defined as being Spanish hymns, although in La Union, which is famous for  the Las Minas Flamenco Festival, theyre more akin to a flamenco style of music.

In La Union this tradition of performing saetas has evolved into an annual competition. Participants preinscribe so that the parade will stop at the appropriate position, and the competitor can perform their song to Christ of the Miners.

The verses are unaccompanied, so in order to win, a good voice is required, so if youd like to see something uniquely Spanish and which youll never see anywhere else in the region, come along to the Church of our lady of the Rosary for 9pm on the 5th April and join in with the procession to find the clearest voice in La Union.

Saturday 31st March, Sábado de Pasión

7pm, Vía Crucis, From the Mining museum.

From 5.30pmthe tourist train will be ferrying participants up the hill from the carpark by the train station of La Unión, just behind the old market place, up to the entrance of the mine, the Mina Agrupa Vicente, and the procession will then wend its way down the old route 33 at 8pm. It is estimated that the entire procession will take 2 hours 20 minutes to descend.

For map and more info about the mine, Click Mina Agrupa Vicenta

Sunday 1st April, Domingo de Ramos, Palm Sunday

8am, Parade from the Iglesia de los Dolores, El Garbanzal, La Unión

Thursday 5th April , 9pm

Procesión del Cristo de los Mineros including Concurso nacional de Saetas, " Ciudad de la Unión."

Saeta competition and procession

Pasos:

1.Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, Rigal - 1940

2.La Verónica

3.San Juan Evangelista, Rigal - 1940

4.La Dolorosa

5.Santísima Virgen de la Caridad, Conesa - 1996

6.Cristo de los Mineros,Jerique - 1911

Start Point Iglesia Parroquia Nstra Snra del Rosario

Calle de Numancia

Click for map

Friday 6th April, Good Friday procession

Procesión del Santo Enrierro.

8.30pm From the Iglesia del Rosario 

Start Point Iglesia Parroquia Nstra Snra del Rosario

Calle de Numancia

Click for map

Pasos:

1.Cruz Vacía

2.María Magdalena, Conesa - 1995

3.Santo Sepulcro,Conesa - 1996

4.San Juan Evangelista, Rigal - 1940

5.Santísima Virgen de la Soledad, Conesa - 1994