Semana Santa in Barcelona

One important Semana Santa tradition is going to the popular market where Barcelonans buy a palm to accompany Procesión de Ramos. Barcelona has preserved the Burreta del Domingo de Ramos procession. That day, palms or olive branches are blessed to hang on the doors of homes. Traditionally, this is believed to help protect the home from evil spirits.

Jueves Santo is celebrated in Barcelona with the traditional procession, the Viacrucis de la Sangre.

Viernes Santo is also marked by impressive processions through the city’s emblematic streets. The most prominent is Procesión del Santo Entierro, held in the afternoon. This majestic procession draws locals and tourists alike and recreates biblical scenes with religious floats carried on the shoulders of people wearing tunics. Other famous processions are Procesión de la Virgen de los Dolores and the Procesión de Viernes Santo of the «Pontificia y Real Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena de Barcelona», centred on Las Ramblas and Barrio Gótico.

The tastiest Semana Santa tradition in Barcelona is the monas de Pascua. This tradition symbolises that Lent and its abstinences have ended, and the egg symbolises the beginning of life. On Lunes de Pascua, godparents give monas to their godchildren.