Lost in post-procession...


Yesterday was a fine day to do some errands in Granada before the city gets really busy with the most important processions today and Friday.

I spotted this penitent or nazareno on our way back home, obviously hurrying up to catch up a procession.

Monchéri who is Spanish laughed: "Don’t tell me you’re going to take a picture of him! It’s a little bit rude, you know...."

Well, I felt peevish but quickly took a snapshot. Did I imagine it but it seemed to me he was holding a cigarette…No that possibly can’t be!

And yes, he was wearing shoes…


In some processions, the nazarenos walk barefoot, they also might no be allowed to talk once dressed with their tunic and pointed hood, the capirote.

You have to go back to the period of Spanish Inquisition to find the origin of the cone shaped hood which symbolizes grief and repentance. Established in 1478 by catholic monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, the Spanish Inquisition aimed to maintain the orthodoxy in the country.

When the Inquisición arrived in a city, the population was summoned to freely relieve its conscience, after Sunday mass but also denounce possible accomplices. Throughout the centuries, the Inquisición targeted Jews, protestants and moriscos – muslims converted to Catholicism, fought against bigamy, homosexuality and freemasonry, until it was finally abolished in 1834.


In the painting below, Auto de fe de la Inquisición (Act of faith) (1812-1819), Goya depicts a tribunal of the Inquisition. You can see the defendants wearing a white hood as a sign of penitence.





Goya himself got into trouble with the Inquisition in 1813, after painting his Majas (nude and clothed) and was asked to explain why and for whom he painted them. Both works deemed "obscene" by the Inquisition were confiscated and returned to him in 1836.



ps : while I’m writing this post, it suddenly started to rain, which means : no procession….Poor Grananidos ! This is a REAL disappointment for them. Monchéri who is not especially keen on Semana Santa, couldn’t believe his 18 year old nephew was shedding bitter tears last year when the procession of his cofradia (or hermandad : members of a church participating to a procession) had to be cancelled because of the rain. Ironically enough, we’re waiting all year for rain to come because of severe drought but rain is definitely cursed on Semana Santa.

Oh my…the rain won’t stop now.

You know what? I’m going to leave aside the Inquisition and watch Pride and Prejudice for n zillion time with the delightful Keira Kneightley while working on the summer cards design, and make myself a nice cup of tea of course !

Comments

Yoli said…
Que interesante, y precioso que pudistes tomar esa foto.

La lluvia siempre inspira. Disfruta de tu cafe amiga.
Oh, that sounds lovely....Pride and Prejudice, cups of tea, and much needed rain!

Quite a culture shock after the penitents in hoods...I wonder if the "dunce cap" has any relation to that pointed hood back there in history somewhere...
Unknown said…
enjoyed the reading, didnt know much about it, happy weekend :)
paris parfait said…
Sorry about the rain! What a disappointment. But hope you have a lovely Easter weekend. And the answer to your question is Laduree! :)
paris parfait said…
Oh and by the way, Goya - a genius! I love his work - the passion with which he insisted on portraying the truth - even when it had to be done in a discreet manner, i.e. with the Spanish Royal family and their friends.
Elizabeth said…
Have a blessed and wonderful Easter.
You have to enjoy the rain a little if you need it!
It rained in Morocco at the last big festival Eid el Kabir and people were so thrilled. They saw the rain as a gift.
But the people whose parade was cancelled must be disappointed.
Isabella said…
I'm thrilled to have found your blog, I live in Australia, but my daughter is studying in Grenada now, she is doing the course in Spanish, and simply fallen in love with Andalusia.
Frank Gardner said…
Hi Lala, it is very interesting to hear about some of the Semana Santa processions in Spain. The influence is obvious here in Mexico.
I posted a few photos of the Via Crucis in Atotonilco on my blog today that you might find interesting.
They also have a pretty amazing Santo Entierro procession here in San Miguel de Allende.
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