Holy Week is one of Spain’s most deeply rooted religious and popular traditions, particularly in Andalusia and the city of Jerez.

Celebrated each year during the week leading up to Easter Sunday, Holy Week shows numerous religious brotherhoods take to the streets in procession, carrying sacred images on elaborate processional floats known as “pasos”, depicting scenes from the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

These pasos, which weigh between 1,000 and 3,000 kilograms, are carried by groups of 30 up to 50 men known as costaleros. Members of the brotherhoods themselves, these bearers support for many hours the immense weight of the floats on their shoulders, moving together in a carefully coordinated rhythm.

The processions also feature nazarenos, penitents dressed in distinctive robes whose colours vary according to their brotherhood; marching bands performing traditional processional music that creates a solemn and deeply moving atmosphere; acolytes; and other participants accompanying the sacred images.

The processions wind their way through the Historic Centre of Jerez, passing some of the city’s most traditional streets, squares and churches. All the brotherhoods follow a shared section of the route, known as the Carrera Oficial (Official Processional Route), which leads them to Jerez Cathedral. Thousands of residents and visitors gather along the streets to witness these extraordinary displays of devotion.

Among the most special and moving moments are the saetas, traditional flamenco-style devotional songs performed from balconies or directly from the street as the sacred images pass by. A saeta is a short, intensely expressive song addressed to the religious image passing before the singer, known as the saetero.

Although rooted in religious devotion, Holy Week also holds immense artistic, historical and social significance. Sculpture, music, silversmithing, embroidery and centuries-old traditions come together in a celebration that unites faith, art, emotion and popular culture.