In the heart of the Pyrenees, Lourdes in France receives more than 5 million visitors from all over the world every year. Many visitors come in pilgrimage to the Notre Dame of Lourdes Sanctuaries and Easter is no exception. On Palm Sunday (1st April 2007) there is a Blessing of the Palms at Rosary Square followed by an international Mass at the Basilique Saint-Pie X. Today also sees the first of the Eater processions and the benediction of the sick. Maundy Thursday is marked by an evening international Mass and procession to the Basilique Notre Dame du Rosaire. On Good Friday, as tradition dictates, there is no mass but instead a solemn Commemoration of the Passion and Veneration of the Cross. The blessing of the New Fire and Mass of the Resurrection takes place on Easter Saturday in the Basilique of St. Pius X whilst an international Mass is planned for the morning of Easter Sunday, followed by a more joyous procession. There is also a procession planned for the Sunday following Easter (15th April 2007) Car hire Carcassone from £19 Car hire Toulouse from £19 Car hire Pau from £19
Explore Arles at Easter with Carhire3000
The bull has lived in the Carmargue since Roman times and they form the centre of many of the area’s cultural traditions and the “Feria de Paques” in Arles is no exception. From the 6th to the 9th of April 2007, the historic town of Arles celebrates its heritage with daily “bull games” and “corridas” as well as live music and processions.
The opening ceremony takes place at 20h30 at the Boulevard des Lices on Maundy Thursday. Saturday, 7th April is the “Feria de los ninos” (Children’s Festival) with the main procession from the town centre to the Arena taking place at 15h followed by a live concert in the Boulevard des Lices later that evening.
Easter in Sicily (or “Sa Pasca Manna”) is the most important festival of the year One of the most impressive processions in Sicily takes place in Castelsardo on Easter Monday. The town’s lights are switched off and the procession, called Lunissanti, winds its way through the town from St Mary’s church, illuminated only by torches. Other Easter processions take place in Castelsardo on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
Catenanuova holds an annual Easter Festival (30th March to 8th April 2007) with processions, street entertainment and attractions for all the family.
In Cagliari there are processions and ceremonies both in the local churches and in the surrounding streets throughout the Easter week
In Oliena on Easter Sunday, residents line the streets to celebrate ‘S’Incontru at the moment when two separate processions - one carrying the Virgin Mary and the other a statue of Christ - meet.
Explore Braga, Portugal at Easter with Carhire3000
Easter is widely celebrated in Portugal and is an opportunity for families to come together for long lunches and festivities.
Easter in Braga is full of tradition. The streets are decorated with religious motifs and the little street altars (or “Passos”) are filled with flowers and candles. There are daily religious parades but the evening procession on Maundy Thursday (5th April 2007) is a must-see. All the lights in the town are turned off and the “Farricocos” wearing bright purple tunics and carrying torches, walk through the streets barefoot, their heads covered as a sign of penitence.
From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, Semana Santa (1-8th April 2007) is one of Andalucia’s biggest annual festivals and visitors flock to Granada every year to watch the large processions of traditional floats which depict the Easter story. For those who have not participated before, the change of mood each day is particularly striking. The most somber processions occur on Good Friday (depicting the crucifixion of Christ) and the most joyous on Easter Sunday (celebrating Christ's resurrection from the dead). There is a procession from each parish church, with a great variety of traditional floats. Most processions wind their way slowly around the city, taking in the Town Hall in the Plaza de Carmen and the Cathedral but on Easter Saturday, there is one main procession which leads up to the church at the Alhambra. If you can visit for longer than just the weekend, the unique Wednesday procession (Christ of Sacromonte/the Gypsies) and the Silent Maundy Thursday procession are particularly worth seeing. There are celebrations across the country (with notable exceptions in Madrid and Barcelona) and each village and town marks the occasion with its own procession and festivities. As well as Granada, the cities of Seville and Cadiz are particularly popular with visitors for Easter. But if you are planning to visit, remember to book your accommodation and car hire early. Car hire Granada from £19 Car hire Malaga from £11
