Religious Festival Floats
Malaga, Spain
Throughout our tour Antonio was constantly introducing us to fascinating aspects of Spanish culture and history.
Religious festival floats
In Malaga we popped into the headquarters of two religious brotherhoods or fraternities housing the floats used to carry very holy images during public processions for its religious festivals. These types of festivals and processions happen all over the country, particularly during Holy Week leading up to Easter but all the year for specific saint's festival days as well.
Antonio also explained the very strict rules surrounding these processions. For instance, that it is considered a huge honour to be among those carrying the floats and that often locals will compete for this privilege. He shared facts surrounding the incredible distance and the length of time of some of the processions, how the march and its rhythm is regulated, as well as the weight of some of the floats and the stamina needed to carry them.
So interesting!
What else to say?
These floats are enormous.
These floats are elaborate.
These floats are spectacular.
See the beautiful, serene, absolutely wonderful statue of Mother Mary? I saw her in her church but during Holy Week she would be carried on one of the floats - the large silver one you will see - for the procession.
See the picture of the photo of an actual procession to give you a sense of the scale of the floats and of the procession. So, so, so cool.
I guess I will just have to return and see them in an actual procession.
It is good to dream.
See also a few snaps of some of the scenes of the miniature Nativity that was also set up in the fraternity. Antonio said it takes the monks 1 full month to set it up. Given how long it takes me to set up my miniature Christmas woodland scene, I could well believe it.
Religious festival floats
In Malaga we popped into the headquarters of two religious brotherhoods or fraternities housing the floats used to carry very holy images during public processions for its religious festivals. These types of festivals and processions happen all over the country, particularly during Holy Week leading up to Easter but all the year for specific saint's festival days as well.
Antonio also explained the very strict rules surrounding these processions. For instance, that it is considered a huge honour to be among those carrying the floats and that often locals will compete for this privilege. He shared facts surrounding the incredible distance and the length of time of some of the processions, how the march and its rhythm is regulated, as well as the weight of some of the floats and the stamina needed to carry them.
So interesting!
What else to say?
These floats are enormous.
These floats are elaborate.
These floats are spectacular.
See the beautiful, serene, absolutely wonderful statue of Mother Mary? I saw her in her church but during Holy Week she would be carried on one of the floats - the large silver one you will see - for the procession.
See the picture of the photo of an actual procession to give you a sense of the scale of the floats and of the procession. So, so, so cool.
I guess I will just have to return and see them in an actual procession.
It is good to dream.
See also a few snaps of some of the scenes of the miniature Nativity that was also set up in the fraternity. Antonio said it takes the monks 1 full month to set it up. Given how long it takes me to set up my miniature Christmas woodland scene, I could well believe it.