Easter: Resurrection elsewhere

Although it's not Alicante, I thought it might be interesting to show you an insight into one of the ceremonies performed during Easter in Spain.  This weekend I was in the south of Spain in a small village and thought I'd go to see how they celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I am not a religious person myself but I always like to witness ceremonies of the Catholic church in Spain that have formed the country where I'm living.  It helps me to understand the people and culture a little better.

I don't think it is necessary for me to explain what the Resurrection is all about so I will only describe the basic activities of the ceremony that they celebrate in this particular church in Andalusia.  Every church has its own way of celebrating.  (I will apologise for the quality of the following photos in advance... they looked alright when I took them on my mobile phone at night, but now I look back at them in daylight they are not what I was expecting.. sorry).

Firstly, at about 11.30pm a bonfire is lit outside the doors of the church.  This is a blessed flame representing the light of God and is what is used to light a huge candle that, after the ceremony, sits in the church at the alter, lit during the whole year until next Easter.  This huge pillar candle is about 1.20mt tall and as the church representative holds it at the entrance to the church everyone lights their own personal small candle from it as they enter the church.  The lights are off in the church at this point.  Its all dark except for the candles each person holds:

Entering the church with the year-long candle

The congregation by candlelight

Then, many psalms are read from the Old testament, after which, being well after midnight, Jesus is resurrected represented by the main lights in the church being lit progressively and the congregation blowing out their small candles whilst the church bells ring.  Its a small but well-maintained church inside which you can also see from these photos:

Lights lit progressively...

Lights on.

Then after some more passages read from the bible the ceremony continues outside:

The front door of the church

A representation of the Virgin being carried

Firstly a statue of the Virgin is carried outside atop a wooden float loaded with flowers on the shoulders of designated people.
It's carried down the steps and turned around to face the doors of the church again.
 
The wafers representing the Body of Christ (taken during Holy Communions) are placed inside a staff or long cross and carried outside underneath a textile cover (here it's yellow) to protect it.  It is taken down the steps to the square in front of the church where the statue of the Virgin is then carried towards it and is made to bow before it 3 times approaching and 3 times going backwards.  This all takes place in complete silence apart from some small children who ring tiny bells to signify the various stages.  Its very respectful.  Then, they all walk around the town square and back into the church to return the wafers to the holy box at the alter.  People say their goodbyes and wish each other well and go home:

It's the end of the Easter celebration in Andalusia and they don't have Easter Monday as a holiday like they do in many other communities in Spain.  Instead, there are processions during the whole week representing different situations at Easter and they have holiday days when shops and businesses are shut on the Thursday and the Friday before.

Have you seen any 'Semana Santa' (week of Saints) processions in Spain?