Today is the start of Semana Santa (Holy Week), probably the most important fiesta in the Andalucian calendar so there are quite a few images today, as there will be on future blogs throughout this week.
We left the house this morning about 10'ish after noticing that people were gathering outside of the Ayuntamiento. So we headed up the hill and joined the throng. Most of the children and a few adults were holding palm leaves and olive branches.At 10.30 a service began with a few prayers and hymns.
The lady in green is a neighbour but to our shame we have not yet introduced ourselves but she always smiles and says hello.
After the service, the congregation headed down Calle Llana towards the church opposite the Plaza de Andalucia. Knowing there would be a break now while the service took place, we headed home for a coffee.
We re-emerged at about midday in the Plaza de la Iglesia at the top of the village. The picture's right shows the Olvera Town Band leading the procession up to the church.
Looking across the square at the gathering crowd.
Although it was a solemn occasion there's still time to have fun.
The procession starts from the church.
Twenty four young men of the village, referred to generally as "Costaleros" but specifically in Olvera as "Cargadores", carrying "La Borriquita" on their shoulders. The weight is such that each has a cushion under his shoulder to ease the burden.
Apparently they train for six months before the event to ensure that they work in harmony and unison as they constantly sway from side to side as they carry the weight.
The procession is led by the children of the village. This picture shows Lara in the centre, the daughter of a neighbour.
A welcome rest. The procession does a circular route of the village which takes between six and eight hours before returning to the church. So every twenty metres or so the procession halts to give the Cargadores a break.
The crowds in the main street.
Still time for a joke though!!
These are our neighbours Eduardo and Rosalia with their children Celia and Alexandro, who we met at the end of the procession. They are really lovely and have been very welcoming towards us since we arrived in the village.
Linked posts:Procesión del Santo Entierro (Holy Burial)
Procesión de la Vera Cruz (The Cross)
Procesión de Jesús Nazareno y Ntra. Sra de los Dolores
Semana Santa - Procesión de El Cautivo (The Captive)
Semana Santa - At the church
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