01/07/2026
During the Semana Santa (Easter week) cities in Andalusia are filled with non-stop parades which block roads and all traffic.
Conical-hatted 'Nazarenes' make up the majority of the marchers, who represent different 'confraternities' associated with the city's churches.
They carry effigies of Jesus, Mary and various other Biblical characters to tell the story of the Crucifixion. Representing sinners, their participation is mainly interpreted as an act of religious penance for sins, with all the associated concepts of purification, atonement, divine suffering etc.
This makes the participation of children particularly harrowing.
Similar parades take place in former Spanish-ruled/colonised areas - particularly notable are the ones that take place in the Philippines, where penitence is physically expressed through brutal self-harm rituals. I heard this used to be the case with the Spanish edition of these marches, but have not been able to confirm.
One origin story of the coned hats and parades is that they were used to publicly humiliate and punish people designated as 'sinners' by the Inquisition. The colour of the cone hat represented their type of punishment. The Nazarenes' similarity to a dunce hat and the K*K outfit is undeniable though there are no proven historical links.
Taken outside of their historical and religious context, the parades are undoubtedly a community event that bring people together and connect them with the past, and for the visitor, the atmosphere is very welcoming and inclusive.
