Nine-day festival fills streets of Toledo, Spain with international visitors
In Toledo, the Holy Week festival lasts nine days and includes 20 different processions. More than 3,000 people participate, not including spectators. Thousands more come from around the world to witness the events.
- 1 year ago
April 13, 2023
TOLEDO, Spain — Thousands gathered in Toledo, Spain to celebrate the Holy Week of Easter as part of an annual event which has gained international recognition. In 2014, the festival was declared an international tourist attraction and quickly became one of the most important celebrations in Spain.
During Holy Week, the city of Toledo in Spain transforms into a beautiful scene swirling with color, emotions, passion, and old traditions. Whether visitors come as devoted Christians or simply to witness this historical unfolding, the event promises to take you back in time.
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A fourth century tradition lives on
Holy Week is the annual Christian commemoration of the passion of Christ. The tradition recounts the entrance to Jerusalem, the last supper, the Via Crucis, and the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Resurrection Sunday.
In Toledo, the Holy Week festival lasts nine days and includes 20 different processions. More than 3,000 people participate, not including spectators. Thousands more come from around the world to witness the events. The tradition begins with a long march in honor of Christ. Church members utilize heavy, ornate floats, carry crosses, and walk the streets of the city dressed in traditional religious garments. Each float belongs to a particular brotherhood.
Afterwards, people gather for mass, and attend live music concerts. The Boards of Brotherhoods, together with 6,000 Toledo brothers, work to build the essence of the event. Holy Week remains one of the most significant annual events in Spain. In addition to holding a strong cultural and social impact, it also left a positive economic impact on the city, thanks to the tourism it attracts. The event brings strangers from all over the world, eager to experience the wonderful features it offers.
