La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I took another long walk yesterday afternoon. I might even attempt a workout at the gym tomorrow morning. The dizzies seem to, yet again, be on the wane. My fitness and mood need to be improved. I could have easily spent the day in bed yesterday but I forced myself to get out and walk under warm, cloudy-sunny skies.
Semana Santa (Easter week) is soon to begin. There will be 41 different processions between 13 and 20 April. I want to witness at least some of them, but don’t think I’ll venture near the mesquite/cathedral, which will be overwhelmingly crowded. However, many of the processions will pass within a a few minutes of us, so I’ll be sure to catch some of those. Although I’m not a believer and don’t have much respect for the Catholic Church, its history, nor its abuses, the processions are fascinating and artful. The penitents in their capes and hoods were around long before America’s loathsome Ku Klux Klan, but it’s still difficult to not get a chill when I see them. Check out the two strange (to me) shop displays I spotted (first and last photos). Maybe you’ll find them strange, as well. I won’t tell you what I first thought the group at top were holding in their right hands. What do they look like to you?
Today’s other photos are of churches I’ve seen on recent walks. Some date back to the 13th century. Despite Spain’s Catholic history, or maybe because of it, religion is not allowed to play a role in government policy. There are, of course, political parties that would like to change that, but, from what I understand, Spanish culture continues to grow more secular. As for me, like Imogene Coca in the musical The Twentieth Century, I simply try to keep my mind, my friends, a notch above the sewer.
Ayer por la tarde di otro largo paseo. Quizás incluso intente hacer ejercicio en el gimnasio mañana por la mañana. Los mareos parecen estar remitiendo. Mi estado físico y mi ánimo necesitan mejorar. Podría haberme pasado el día en cama, pero me obligué a salir y caminar bajo un cielo cálido, nublado y soleado.
La Semana Santa está a punto de comenzar. Habrá 41 procesiones diferentes entre el 13 y el 20 de abril. Quiero presenciar al menos algunas, pero no creo que me acerque al mezquite/catedral, que estará abarrotado. Sin embargo, muchas procesiones pasarán a unos minutos de nosotros, así que me aseguraré de ver algunas. Aunque no soy creyente y no tengo mucho respeto por la Iglesia Católica, su historia ni sus abusos, las procesiones son fascinantes y artísticas. Los penitentes con sus capas y capuchas ya existían mucho antes del repugnante Ku Klux Klan estadounidense, pero aun así es difícil no sentir escalofríos al verlos. Fíjense en los dos escaparates de tiendas que vi, que me resultaron extraños (primera y última foto). Quizás a ustedes también les parezcan extraños. No les diré qué pensé al principio que el grupo de arriba llevaba en la mano derecha. ¿Qué les parecen?
Las otras fotos de hoy son de iglesias que he visto en paseos recientes. Algunas datan del siglo XIII. A pesar de la historia católica de España, o quizás debido a ella, la religión no puede influir en las políticas gubernamentales. Claro que hay partidos políticos que querrían cambiar eso, pero, por lo que tengo entendido, la cultura española sigue secularizándose. En cuanto a mí, como Imogene Coca en el musical On the Twentieth Century, simplemente intento mantener mi mente, mis amigos, un nivel por encima de la alcantarilla.
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I’m glad to hear that the dizzies aren’t troubling you at the moment. Thanks for sharing these wonderful scenes with us, Mitch!
Yeah, that KKK connection is hard to shake.
Judy C:
I’ve also seen adult penitents holding the hands of 3-year-old penitents. I find that even more creepy.
Little red Klansmen. That’s all I can see. And the things in their hands look like when our dogs (or cows, goats, and donkeys) get excited.
I hope you’ll take some videos of the processions. I find them mesmerizing to watch.
Kelly:
That’s one of the “things” I saw in their hands! I will definitely take some video.
Pageantry, and tradition. There is so much to see. The churches often have great architecture and art, and because they are what they are, they were often protected from destruction. Often worth the peak inside.
David:
Yes, some of the art and architecture is beyond belief.
Those coned caps always give me the willies.
I saw her in the original Oh the 20th century !
Urspo:
Oh, I would have loved to have seen the original!
I have no idea what those little coneheads are holding. It could be so many things. I guess. I feel embarrassingly clueless.
I rather hate Easter. I think because I would be, could be, am, all about the spring renewal of life and seeming resurrection of so much life all around us but the whole Zombie Jesus thing annoys me so. Why did we have to take something so true, so pure, so real, and turn it into a bloody horror story? Well, that’s only one of the problems I have with it.
I do love ham and deviled eggs though.
I really applaud you for getting out of bed and walking. I’m not having a lot of luck with that one. I hope your dizziness continues to abate. Your walk-photos are, as always, a wonder.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
They’re supposed to be lit candles, but I see so many obscene and suggestive things. My sister always bought us chocolate Easter bunnies. THAT made me love Easter. Now, I especially enjoy torrijas, a Spanish Easter specialty. SG will be making some and I’ll tell all about it again. I got out of bed at 11:15 today! Just finished breakfast at 12:40!
I’m no fan of the Catholic (or any) Church either – but the bells, smells and spectacle, especially in all those Baroque surroundings, and/or with some OTT saint or Virgin being carried on a sedan chair by hefty youths, are impressive. Nobody does a procession like the Spanish church! Jx
Jon:
Yes, the bells, smells, and spectacle! In Sevilla, we lived on the corner of a historic plaza. We had seven balconies and we usually kept the doors open. Some days, the apartment would fill with the fragrance of incense. We loved it.
I agree with you. One does not have to be religious or church going to appreciate church architecture or all the pomp and circumstance of the events and parade processions. Like you said they are an art unto themselves. And just what are those hooded figurines?
Mistress Borghese:
Those are the penitents who march in the Holy Week processions. I’ll be sure to share loads of new photos this year.
1. Dildos.
2. Vibrators.
3. Hot Dogs.
Take your pick, depending on whether you’re horny or hungry.
Debra:
I had all but the hot dogs! I also thought they were carrying upside down ice cream cones in the second photo.
They look like Trump supporters 🤔
-Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
I hope they wouldn’t all be!
These little figurines of penitents are night lights. How clever.
Laurent:
But talk about nightmares!
Vatican Butt Plugs, from the gift shop.
Bob:
That’s it!
Those red hooded penitents give me the willies every time I see them! And they look like they’re carrying those penis-shaped bottle openers you featured in your blog a couple of years back, LOL….
Glad your dizzy spells have abated — now get out there and smell all those flowers blooming in your beautiful city, Scoot!
Tundra Bunny:
The penitents come in all the colors of the rainbow, plus. And, yeah, sex toys is what I was thinking.
Hot dogs. Olivia
Olivia:
Ha! I didn’t see hot dogs, but that was on Debra She Who Seeks’ list, too. Everything I saw was sexual in nature.
Do those hooded figures come in chocolate? Here in New Mexico penitents travel by foot to a church in Chimayo. Not nearly as much a spectacle but along the same idea.
Frank:
They come in chocolate and also in large sugar candies! I’ll look for some in town, just for the fun of it.
Sex toys?
Kirk:
Exactly!
I know they look like red klu klux clan men but they are sweet
finlaygray:
Especially with those sex toys in their hands.
Hahaha
Oh you have no idea how carefully I had to explain to people that Los Penitentes were NOT the KKK. And we just had our Spring Break, which is basically Semana Santa in the US.
The whole nonsense with chocolate eggs and bunnies is yet to come, though…
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
My sister used to buy me a chocolate bunny every year. I’m off today to look for chocolate penitents! And, yeah, Americans are usually shocked when they see the caped crusaders.
My first thought was ice cream cones.
Walt the Fourth:
Although my thoughts on the first photo were all for adults only, my first thought on the second photo was upside down ice cream cones.
Imogene Coca? Good Lord, that’s going back a ways. I find the penitentes creepy too — I’m sure anyone who grew up in America would feel the same. I think the Klan stole the idea for their uniforms from the penitentes, if I remember correctly. (In other words it’s not coincidental that they look alike.)
Steve,
I loved Imogene Coca. Yeah, the Klan gave the Penitents a bad rep. (Ahem)