when exactly is semana santa? and does it fall the same time each year? i am looking to visit madrid next spring and would like to go down to sevilla for a day or two to enjoy the festival.

Semana Santa is Easter in Mexico

sorry, I mis -read, thought you asked What semana santa was<BR>It is the week from GOod Friday until Easter Sunday...Holy Week.<BR>

Semana Santa is not a festival. It is religious event of deep significance for those who are Catholics.<BR>

It may not be a "festival" but there are processions and othr activities combining both Christian and preChristian traditions that may be of interest as folk culture to an observer who wants to see manifestations of another culture.

It's the same Easter week you have in USA. If you are thinking of going to Seville, book your hotel accommodation WELL in advance as the festival there is very popular.

Keely,<BR><BR>Semana Santa is the week before Easter which begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. Many Spanish towns commemorate Holy Week with processions and special music that features the events in the life of Jesus during the last week in His life. For example, Palm Sunday processions would depict Jesus entering Jerusalem with his followers waving palm leaves, Maundy Thursday processions tend to depict the suffering of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Good Friday processions tend to be the most solemn of all as they focus on the Passion and Via Dolorosa and Crucifiction. Easter Sunday is a jubilation procession featuring the Resurrection. <BR><BR>There is no doubt that it is a very Catholic and religious event for many Spainairds but I am sure that it would be very interesting for others who are open to the historical and cultural aspects of it.<BR><BR>Ditto on the suggestion that you book well in advance in Sevilla for Semana Santa. <BR><BR>Maria

thanks to all for your help. sorry if i offended anyone by calling holy week a festival. most of what i read describes the week in sevilla as parades and then parties. i'd love any accurate info and recommandations. i don't want to be in sevilla for the whole week, maybe just the early days of holy week.<BR>thanks again!!<BR>keely

Keely,<BR><BR>Are you confusing Semana Santa in Sevilla with the Feria of Sevilla which is, indeed, a week long festival with lots of partying and all night festivities? The Feria occurs every year AFTER Semana Santa and has a very different tone and is also extremely popular with locals as well as tourists from Spain and internationally. <BR><BR>Same advice for Feria....book well in advance (6 to 9 months is not too early!) and plan to pay premium rates for all levels of accomodation.<BR><BR>Buen Viaje!<BR><BR>Maria

Just came back from Holy Week in Andalucia. It is a religious celebration where large floats are carried though the streets accompanied by music and Nazarenes, which are cloaked penitents. Although the processions are solemn, the floats are often beutiful and lit with candles at night. The floats typically weigh about three tons and are carried on the shoulders of a group of men. Consequently, several beaks are taken, so a given float will often take half a day to complete its round trip. Although we are not Catholics, we appreciated the whole experience. <BR><BR>Although the processions themselves are solemn, the street life during Holy Week is particularly vibrant with families staying out til the early morning hours. I would recommend the experience, but book your hotels early.