If you’re planning to spend Easter in Madrid you should expect to be blasted into the past and completely taken away by the festivities. Also known as “Holy Week” or “Semana Santa” in Spanish, this is a time of year when the Catholic world celebrates the Passion of Christ. While many parts of the world might be celebrating with white rabbits and chocolates, Spain honours many of the traditions that were set nearly 600 years ago. This year Semana Santa in Madrid will take place from Sunday April 13th – Sunday April 20th. Keep reading to discover everything that will be taking place!
Want to learn even more about celebrating Easter in Spain? Take a look at our guide to the best Easter foods!
Important: The following list contains an English translation of this year’s highlights as well as a brief description of each day. For the full schedule of this year’s processions and information about the committees that organize them, you can visit the official Spanish document.
Day 1: Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)
This is the first day of the Semana Santa processions. Palm Sunday honours Jesus Christ’s arrival to Jerusalem. On this day you’ll find many people in costume and carrying palm leaves – these clothes and accessories are similar to those worn in the late 14th century. There will be several processions taking place on this day. The most notable being the Borriquita, starting at the Plaza de San Ildefonso at 15:15 and the Procesión del Silencio, starting at the Iglesia del Santisimo Cristo de la Fe at 15:30.
Day 2: Holy Monday (Lunes Santo)
The second day of Easter in Madrid is known simply as “Holy Monday” and aims to honour the final day of Jesus’ life. People who observe the holiday will spend their day attending mass, spending time with loved ones and reflecting on their faith. There is one small procession taking place on this day, which starts at the church Nuestra Señora de las Delicias at 20:00.
Day 3: Holy Wednesday (Miércoles Santo)
The third day of Semana Santa commemorates Judas’ betrayal of Jesus Christ. This is an incredibly important day during the Easter week and often leads to very intense, moving and dramatic processions around the city. This year there will be two processions taking place for you to witness. The first starting at Plaza de Santiago at 19:45 and the second starting at Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Luis Obispo at 20:15.
Day 4: Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo)
As the days on the Madrid Easter calendar move forward, the themes of each celebration begin to intensify. On this particular day, those who celebrate commemorate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. There are four processions taking place on this day. One that is particularly unique to the city of Madrid is El Divino Cautivo (The Divine Captive). This procession was originally organized by former Porlier prisoners from the Civil War wanted to honour their survival. But you’ll also find two processions taking place in the city centre. One starting at Iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo at 18:00 and another starting at Colegiata de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo y San Isidro at 18:30.
Day 5: Good Friday (Viernes Santo)
Viernes Santo (Good Friday). Known as the most solemn, dramatic and spiritually significant day of Holy Week. This day calls followers back to the Passion, Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ. The day is observed with intense mourning, deep religious devotion and some of the most powerful processions of the entire Easter week. There are 7 processions taking place in Madrid on Holy Friday, from 18:30 onwards. The most important being the famous Procession of Silence (Procesión del Silencio). This procession starts at the Plaza de la Parroquia ar 21:00 and consists of hundreds of participants cloaked in traditional costumes, carrying candles and incents, marching in complete silence.
Day 6: Holy Saturday (Sábado Santo)
The sixth day of the Easter calendar marks a quiet day of reflection and contemplation. Churches will often refrain from holding mass and decorating their alters and those who celebrate will often stay home in solidarity. There is only one small procession on this day, known as “La Soledad” which starts at the Iglesia de la Concepción Real de Calatrava at 16:00.
Day 7: Easter Sunday (Domingo de Resurrección)
As you can imagine, Domingo de Resurrección is the absolute pinnacle of the Holy Week celebrations. Unlike many of the previous days, Easter Sunday is widely celebrated worldwide on Christian, Catholic and even non-denominational calendars. Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this day is filled with light, colour and music in churches all across the city. On this day, you can witness The Eucharist Celebration at the Monasterio Jerónimo del Corpus Christi (Convento de las Carboneras) at 11:30 and then marvel at the incredible Tamborrada performance at the Plaz Mayor at 13:00.
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Leah Warner
Leah has been living in and exploring Madrid since 2013 when she moved to the city for a simple summer abroad. She started the Citylife Blog in 2014 with the goal to share everything there is to know about her favourite place on earth!
3 Comments. Leave new
What time is the Easter Sunday celebration in plaza mayor?
It starts at 12 int he afternoon! But make sure to get there early because it gets VERY full!
Great post! Thanks Leah!