Holy Week in Malaga 2024: Dates and Events

Each year, Catholics in Malaga, Spain, gather for several days to express their devotion to their faith in what is known as Holy Week or Semana Santa. The Spanish people as a whole are deeply rooted in their religion and culture, and Malaga is one of the cities in this country where the Semana Santa festivities are particularly extravagant. Find out all there is to know about Holy Week in Malaga 2024, including its history, dates of activities, and procession events.

1. What is Holy Week and Where Did It Start?

Holy Week refers to the last week of Lent wherein Catholics pay annual tribute to the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the days leading up to Easter, Catholic hermandad or cofradias (brotherhoods), in Spain perform penance processions on local streets. Participants usually wear the nazareno, a special robe for penitence that is made up of a tunic and a capirote (a hood with a conical tip) to help them maintain their anonymity. They also carry candles or wooden crosses, walk on the streets barefoot, and even walk with shackles on their feet to demonstrate their penance.

The present Holy Week events and activities trace their origins back to the Greek processions that carried people on carriages and used images and music to worship their gods. The Catholic Church adopted this custom and blended it with other practices from the Roman Empire. This resulted in processions that used the Christian cross in place of the Roman standard. Early Christian processions served as a way to transport the bodies of dead martyrs.

2. Components of Malaga Easter Parade 2024

Before we jump into the schedule of the Malaga Easter parades, let’s briefly discuss their main components so that you can understand what you are seeing. Take a look at each component below and what they do during the parades:

2.1 Tronos (Thrones)

The giant thrones serve as the foundation or centerpiece of the procession. They are made up of platforms supported by metal beams that bear the religious figures featured in the parade.

2.2 Throne Bearers

The huge and heavy throne requires around 250 people who will carry it on their shoulders. These throne bearers wear suits in the colors of their respective brotherhoods and sometimes walk barefoot or blindfolded. In addition, they need to be very strong and be able to endure long and strenuous walks, as the longest processions can stretch up to 13 hours.

2.3 Mayordomo

The mayordomo is the person responsible for guiding the throne through the streets of Malaga and ensuring that it fits the pathway each time it rounds a corner. In addition, he uses a bell in front of the throne to signal when the throne bearers can take a break or start walking again.

2.4 Nazarenos (Penitents)

The nazarenos are part of the main body of the processions. They wear tall conical hats called capirotes to protect their identity. They also sport long robes and carry items such as crosses, candles, or staffs. Men, women, and children can volunteer to become nazarenos.

2.5 Women

Some women usually walk behind the Virgin Mary’s image. They typically wear an elaborate black mantilla and tortoiseshell fan to adorn their hair.

2.6 Music

Each procession usually includes a full band with trumpets and drums. Most parades feature loud music, but the solemn ones only use the drums.

2.7 Flowers

All of the thrones are covered in thousands of flowers, like roses, carnations, and lilies. The Virgen de las Penas notably has a cape made up of flowers that trail several meters behind the throne. Spectators also customarily throw down rose petals as the parade passes by.

2.8 Incense

Some nazarenos carry incense burners that they sway to and fro as the parade commences. The smell of incense fills the streets even after the procession has moved forward to another location.

2.9 Spectators of Holy Week in Malaga 2024

Unlike spectators in other parts of Andalucia, the Malaga crowd does not usually keep quiet or indulge in quiet reflection during the processions. Instead, they cheer and clap as the thrones pass by, while some shout “Viva!” when they see the Virgin Mary images. 

2.10 Traslados

This term refers to the mini-processions or transfers of thrones from their storage area to their designated starting point for Holy Week. The brotherhoods are the ones responsible for the traslados.

3. Holy Week in Malaga 2024: Dates, Events and Routes

This year, Semana Santa or Easter takes place from March 24 to 31, with March 28 and 29 declared public holidays. During this week, local brotherhoods hold dozens of processions through the streets. Floats are carrying engraved depictions of the Passion of Jesus Christ and sorrowful images of the Virgin Mary. In 1965, this occasion in Malaga was declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest of Spain.

The Semana Santa de Malaga 2024 poster was designed by artist Angel Sarmiento Burgos, who was born in Antequera in 1998. It features five altar boys showing mischievous expressions and the title “MALAGA. Semana Santa 2024.”. According to him, the wood and terracotta design promotes transparency and simplicity. At the same time, it introduces innovation, as it is the first time that he used a three-dimensional piece for the poster. He explained, “I have protected myself from that which disguised me as what I am not.”

Each day of Holy Week in Malaga 2024 also features different kinds of processions. Read on to see some of the highlights of each day and check out the official route of the processions for Holy Week in Malaga 2024:

2.1 March 24: Opening of Holy Week in Malaga 2024

Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), which marks the first day of Semana Santa, is probably the most cheerful and child-friendly of all the days this week. Participants and spectators alike can carry palm leaves and wave them in the air as the first procession commences at around mid-morning. This is in keeping with the Biblical accounts, starting from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the iconic prayer scene at the Garden of Gethsemane, up to Judas’ kiss of betrayal. Below are the participating brotherhoods and the itineraries of the parades:

2.2 March 25: Lunes Santo (Holy Monday)

The main highlight of Holy Monday is the parade of the figure of Jesus the Captive, which is the longest parade during the festivity. This parade features scenes from the crucifixion of Jesus. Below are the itineraries and the confraternities participating in this Malaga Easter parade 2024:

2.3 March 26: Martes Santo (Holy Tuesday)

On Holy Tuesday, spectators will witness a parade of Virgen de las Penas. This religious figure sits on a throne and flaunts a mantle of fresh flowers made by local gardeners. This parade depicts scenes of Jesus’ sufferings, including the moment he fell while carrying a cross, his agony before his death, and the confrontation with King Herod. Check out the featured brotherhoods and itineraries on this day:

2.4 March 27: Miercoles Santo (Holy Wednesday)

On Holy Wednesday, the brotherhoods will stage the La Paloma parade, which features a Christ figure and a pardoned prisoner. People will see white doves flying to and from the Virgin figure as the procession moves. The scenes depicted here include the one where Jesus told a disciple to take care of his mother while he was hanging from the cross, his flagellation, and the moment that a soldier pierced his side with a spear. Here are the itineraries and the confraternities participating in this parade:

2.5 March 28: Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)

Maundy Thursday features the parade of Cristo de Mena, one of the most popular and most covered figures in the processions. The scenes depicted in this parade include the Last Supper of Jesus with his apostles and Jesus carrying the cross. See the itineraries and the participating brotherhoods in this parade below:

2.6 March 29: Viernes Santo (Good Friday)

Good Friday is a very solemn day in Holy Week, and most of the activities on this day are silent. The lights are also turned off as the throne bearing the Virgen de los Dolores passes by. Some of the scenes you can see here are Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus’ body being wrapped in a shroud, Jesus’ descent from the cross, and the transfer of Jesus’ body to the sepulcher. Here are the itineraries and participating brotherhoods in this parade:

2.7 March 30: No Processions for Holy Week in Malaga 2024

Unlike any of the other days in Holy Week, there are no processions on Sabado Negro (Black Saturday). This is because, during this day, people are still waiting for the resurrection of Jesus.

2.8 March 31: Last Day of Holy Week in Malaga 2024

Domingo de Resurrecion (Easter Sunday) marks the last day of Holy Week in Malaga 2024. On this day, people will witness the parade of the Resurrection of Jesus and the Virgin Queen of Heaven. All of the brotherhoods usually attend this event. It depicts the moment that Jesus meets his mother after he is raised from the dead. Here’s the itinerary and the participating brotherhoods for this last procession:

4. How to Enjoy the Holy Week in Malaga 2024 Events

Now that you know what processions will take place during the Holy Week in Malaga 2024, it’s time to learn a few tricks to have the best experience watching the parades. Given that Malaga will be very crowded during the week, you will have only a small wiggle room in your schedule. Check out our useful tips for enjoying these long drawn-out events.

• Visit Malaga churches and brotherhoods in the morning to see the floats up close.
• You can get the best view of the parades from Alameda Principal’s wide street.
• Arrive a couple of hours in advance at your spot to get a front-line view of your favorite procession.
• If you have kids, watch them closely during the parades, as it would be easy to lose someone in the crowd, especially if the children get bored.
• Don’t try to see all of the processions. Just choose two or three and put in the effort to watch those, then spend your time doing other things in Malaga.
• Bring snacks and drinks with you. The processions usually take several hours, and some don’t even wrap up until early in the morning.
• If you can, book your seats ahead of time or rent chairs to ensure that you can sit down as you watch the parades.

Wondering what else you can do in Malaga in between the Holy Week processions? Indulge in the best paella in Malaga for the ultimate comfort food experience. If you have more time, try exploring Malaga in one day and visiting the top tourist sites within the city.

Check out Malaga’s official Semana Santa website to get the latest updates on this upcoming festivity. We also recommend visiting Malaga’s Metro Lines so that you properly map out your routes as you follow the Holy Week events.