Sunday, March 24, 2013

Do You Know The Way To San José?

Fuengirola has a great brochure (online and in PDF format) detailing local events for Semana Santa (Holy Week). There are eight processions throughout the week. The itineraries are included.

LITERAL TRANSLATION:
"RESERVED MONDAY THRU SUNDAY ...
FOR RELIGIOUS ACTS."
(LIKE TURNING WATER INTO WINE PERHAPS?)

Unfortunately, although I could find all the streets, I couldn't initially find all the brotherhoods or churches that were listed. At least I couldn't find correct addresses for all the brotherhoods. I knew there was a procession today for Palm Sunday. I knew all the streets the procession would take during its 2-1/2-hour circuit. But I couldn't figure out where it began. So I headed in the direction of the cluster of streets figuring I would find it. I did, with no trouble really.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE.

The procession began at a parish church. The name of the church wasn't listed identically in the brochure, so it didn't come up on Google searches. It turns out I could have just asked someone if they knew the way to San José: The Saint Joseph Catholic Parish Community Church (San José Communidad Catolica Parroquial).

LEADING THE PROCESSION.
SURELY TOO YOUNG TO BE PENITENT.
PENITENT.
MAKING HIS EXIT AGAIN... 
... WITH HIS USUAL FLAIR.
THERE WAS A MOMENTARY GASP FROM THE CROWD, BUT ALL WAS WELL.
FOLLOWED BY THE THE (EXCELLENT) MUNICIPAL BAND OF FUENGIROLA.
AS THEY TURN THE FIRST CORNER. PALACE OF JUSTICE IN THE BACKGROUND.

19 comments:

  1. There's something about the red hats I find very creepy.

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    1. Bob (and Ms. Sparrow):
      I'm with you both. (And they don't work any better for me in purple or black.)

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    2. Me too. Those hats are creepy.

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  2. We watched one procession today... black hats... The one closest to us on San Jacinto got rained out :-( Hope the weather gets better as rain is predicted for most of the week. Oh yeah... Bill thought he had his wallet safely tucked away.. uh oh... he got his pocket picked. Been on the phone cancelling credit cards. Bummer!

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear that Bill got his billfold stolen, Sharon. That sure takes the fun out of a nice visit.

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    2. Sharon:
      That really stinks about the billfold. What a headache. Yeah, I'm sure it's easy pickings during Semana Santa. More than 1 million additional people in town and everyone crammed against everyone else during the processions.

      Last year many of the processions were also unfortunately rained out. Such a shame. We lucked out here Sunday, but it did rain when the procession was about half-way through. Only 7 more scheduled here.

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  3. Well, this must mark about a year that I've been religiously (no pun intended... I guess ;) reading your blog, Mitchell, because I remember all of the posts last year about the processionals during la semana santa. I'm with Bob, though-- those big hood-mask-hats are just far too reminiscent of the KKK for me to take seriously!

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    1. Judeet:
      I've gotten used to seeing the pointy hoods (capriotes) without thinking KKK, but they still do make me uncomfortable. I sure hope we'll celebrate another anniversary next year!

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  4. Another round of processions. Am amazed at the number of men it takes to carry that 'float'! I wonder if any community has a real live Christ on top passing out palms....that probably sounds absurd but look at those costumes! Great shots Mitch. There seems to be more room there than in Sevilla.

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    1. Jim:
      These guys had a much easier job than the others I've seen. A small float with a lot of help. The floats I've seen before could never have been managed one-handed like that.

      San Geraldo had suggested we carry the real-live him around when we have his procession.

      Many more wide streets here. Actual sidewalks, too!

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  5. Wonderful pictures, as always. I agree with your caption--I hope the owners of those cute little faces in the fourth photo don't actually feel guilty!

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    1. Michelle:
      Given that I'm not religious, and at times anti-religious, the little ones do make me a bit uncomfortable!

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  6. So does this mean you won't have any processions coming by your apartment anymore?

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    1. Ms. Sparrow:
      I don't think any of the Semana Santa processions come by here. However, there's one in July for the Virgin of Carmen (the patron saint of fisherman) that goes right by our door!

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  7. I always feel sorry for the ass that J.C. chose to ride on (and where was the colt?) in order to 'fulfil the prophecy' - which sounds a bit arsey-versey to me, anyway.
    Wouldn't it have been a neater trick to levitate himself into the city, like on a magic carpet? - or would that have been too difficult a miracle to work? But just think how he then truly would have earned all those Hosannas! - though it may not have been so easy to replicate that accomplishment in these processions. Still, with a bit of imagination.....

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    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      That procession takes place on Magic Carpet Tuesday. I think it occurs the second October of every year.

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  8. Beautiful photos but I, too, have to confess to a wee shudder when seeing the children as penitentes. How awful to convince them that they should feel guilt just for the crime of having been born.

    The pointy hats actually gave me a chuckle though; Coneheads Unite!

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    Replies
    1. Jacquelineand...
      I try really hard to behave myself, but I had so SO many comments I wanted to make. Thanks for mentioning the Coneheads.

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