Holy Week in Murcia

Baroque Holy Week.

This Holy Week is characterised by the Nazarenes in their tunics of many colours and their giant 'bellies', which are actually a large bag attached with a tight rope, filled with candies, biscuits, hard-boiled eggs and even beans, which are passed out to friends and family along the procession route. There are more sombre processions in which no sweets are handed out, such as the Refuge, the Rescue, Health, the Return or the Recumbent Christ. One of the most impressive processions is the Silence procession held on Thursday. The most important procession is the Salzillo. It is held on Good Friday at 7.00 in the morning with the first ray of sun, called the 'kiss', which must light the standard of the Fraternity of Our Father Jesus of Nazareth or the face of the 'Dolorosa'. Some of the most interesting floats include The Supper, The Prayer in the Garden, The Capture, The Lashes, Veronica, The Fall, Our Father Jesus of Nazareth (not the Salzillo), St. John or the 'Dolorosa'. Also on Friday evening are the processions of the Merciful Christ, the one from the church of St. Stephen, the Holy Sepulchre, and St. Bartholomew. They pass together in procession along Trapería Street. Saturday is the procession of the Recumbent Christ, from the church of St. Domingo, with one of the most impressive moments in Murcia's Holy Week: passing under the Arch of St. Domingo.