Semana Santa

[smokingboot]

We go to Spain soon. I kind of wish we were there for Easter, but the air tickets go up by £100s for Holy Week, the crowds can be horrendous and the whole thing might bore or baffle him. I'm not convinced he would even enjoy the parades, though I always found them fascinating, the sinister-freaky nazarenos, the pasos, the lace-covered women with candles in their hands. On they go down the old roads, tradition demanding that they stop and listen respectfully if they hear La Saeta, a specific kind of song of sorrow/repentance. It's name translates as The Arrow because it is said to pierce the heart of God. There are many great singers who perform La Saeta, but for me the wonder was always to hear it from some random balcony, an ordinary person pouring their heart out in the dark. That is art. It reminds me of that quote about opera from Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman; If they love it, they will always love it. If they don’t, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul. I enjoy opera in the same way I enjoy heavy metal, some bits get to me, but it's not a deep thing. La Saeta I love.




The different coloured robes signify different orders of the Church. I recall being told that this was significant because at every stop, the brothers have a little drink, and by the time they finish they're often spoiling for a rumble in the name of the Lord. It's then things may get interesting between rival orders. After all, what's religious celebration without a little knockabout fun? In my mind they never slugged it out,but would joust using their capirote clad heads. Some times this made me laugh, other times it scared me to bits. You need night, drums and torches for the full effect.

I'm not too worried about missing Semana Santa in Granada, because I've seen it many times, though that was decades ago. This holiday really is for spending time with Mum, possibly dropping by Whimsy's place as she's invited us to a party in Orgiva and a concert in Granada. I'll try to get R to the Generalife this time, he still hasn't seen it. That'll do for a week, I reckon.

Comments

[asakiyume]

Now I definitely want to run off and listen to La Saeta.

for me the wonder was always to hear it from some random balcony, an ordinary person pouring their heart out in the dark. --oh wow, yes, that would be truly an arrow to the heart.

The thing I love most in Holy Week, and maybe in the whole liturgical year, is the Exultet/Exsultet/Easter Proclamation. It's usually sung like that--just one voice, no instruments. If you search you can find different versions, some more ponderous, some with instrumentation, etc.

[smokingboot]

I went hunting for the Exultet after reading your words. Thanks for the recommendation, yes, it is very beautiful, sweet to the ear and heart.

[asakiyume]

And I just now found and listened to versions of La Saeta and started crying ;_;

... beautiful--thank you for bringing me this.