Seville, Spain’s Holy Week blends faith, tradition and spectacle

By Alexis Marshall

Penitents from the La Paz brotherhood parade in the Palm Sunday procession in Seville, Spain, on March 29. Many of the participants in Semana Santa processions wear traditional costumes that include pointy hoods, which, especially for Americans, may be reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan. But this Catholic garb far predates the American hate group.

Even as religious belief declines in Spain, the processions at Seville’s Semana Santa — the Holy Week lead-up to Easter — draw crowds moved by music, tradition and powerful emotion.

(Image credit: Cristina Quicler)

Source:: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/03/nx-s1-5771511/seville-spain-semana-santa-easter-holy-week