Holy Week procession

Holy Week in Yecla


Holy Week in Yecla is an event of deep religious sentiment and great beauty that has been celebrated since medieval times. The organization of the ceremony respects what was established in 1856, when the procession was first created.

This organization prevails today. The streets of the city are adorned with the presence of the various groups organized around the guilds, which participate in the processional acts of Holy Week in Yecla, with responsibilities for each holy day.

These brotherhoods, made up of bakers, merchants, and woodworkers, among others, participate in the way of the cross that takes place in the narrow streets of the old town, staging the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.
 
Holy Week (Spain) 
Also present are a diversity of musical groups that show off their professionalism and musical quality, giving greater clarity and showiness to this event, as they wear striking, colorful clothing made from beautiful fabrics.

Among others are the Band of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Anguishes, the Band of Bugles and Drums of the Brotherhood of Christ Moored to the Column, and the Band of Saint Mary Magdalene. The “Sanjuaneros” of the Brotherhood of Saint John are very striking because they wear Egyptian clothes.
However, the “Sanjuaneros” are not the only ones who have beautiful costumes. All the brotherhoods are dedicated to wearing costumes with colorful fabrics and designs, alluding to the characters of Holy Week.

The enthusiasm, the joy and the initiative are combined, but also the recollection so that the showiness is an exaltation of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Processions

Eleven processions are held during Holy Week in Yecla. The various processions stop when they reach each church to pray. The celebrations begin on Friday of Sorrows.

On Palm Sunday, the Procession of Palms takes place, remembering the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. On Holy Monday, the Rosary procession moves through the old town. This activity invites meditation and reflection.
 
On Holy Tuesday, in the late afternoon, the “Los Farolicos” procession takes place. In the procession, the reclining Christ is accompanied by the children of the city, who carry handmade lanterns in their hands.

On Holy Wednesday, the processions of the Most Holy Christ of the Blood and of Jesus “Prendido” are fulfilled, reviewing scenes of the Passion and Death of Christ. On Holy Thursday, there is mourning in Yecla and the processions go silent, with only one drum sounding. Christ is going to die.
 
On Holy Friday, the Calvary Procession takes place towards the Purest Basilica, and at night towards the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Virgin, dressed in mourning, receives condolences from all the people.

At Holy Week in Yecla, Holy Sunday is an atmosphere of joy, with cheering parishioners, rockets, candy, and confetti in the midst of the procession of the Risen.

The tradition of Holy Week in Yecla, with all its details, programs, thrones, robes, costumes, and banners of the brotherhoods, is collected in the museum dedicated to this event, located in the Old Church in front of the Assumption Square, between the Town Hall and the Castle Sanctuary.

Yecla's cultural wealth is reflected in its festivals and popular celebrations. Also noteworthy are the festivities in honor of the patroness saint of the city, the Virgin of the Castle. These have been declared of National Tourist Interest and of Intangible Cultural Interest.