Holy Week Brotherhoods
In Spain, Holy Week brotherhoods are religious organisations that host processions during the Holy Week. Brotherhoods have a hierarchical structure, including positions such as Grand Brother and Board of Directors. Their members wear traditional attire consisting of long tunics, pointed headdresses, and sashes that vary depending on the brotherhood.
Pointed caps (capirotes) completely cover the faces of brotherhood members, leaving only slits for the eyes. They are worn to emphasise humility and repentance. Historically, such headdresses were used to mark sinners, but over time they became a symbol of spiritual purification. The pointed shape reflects the soul’s aspiration towards heaven. The tradition itself dates back to medieval religious practices.
During the processions, participants carry religious attributes: sculptures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary on special platforms called pasos. The procession is accompanied by music, with participants carrying candles and incense. These platforms are richly decorated with flowers and candles and can weigh over a ton. They are carried by costaleros, a word derived from “costal” – a sack placed at the base of the neck to support the weight of the platform. Antonio Banderas is a member of one of the brotherhoods in Málaga and participates in the Easter procession every year, fulfilling his duties as a member of the brotherhood.
The Holy Week is an important tradition in Mallorca, with local brotherhoods organising festive processions that are especially popular in Palma amongst the most famous — Brotherhood of the Holy Face (Cofradía de la Santa Faz) and Brotherhood of the Holy Blood (Cofradía de la Sang).
Many brotherhoods have existed for centuries and maintain traditions of repentance, worship, and charity.
This spectacle is so captivating that once seen, it’s impossible to forget.
