The Holy Week

I’m going to talk about the things that are done during “The Holy Week” in my village, Navas Del Pinar (Burgos).

Holy Thursday commemorates the Eucharist at the Last Supper of Jesus and the “Chrism Mass” takes place.This day is dedicated to washing feet, which the priest does. Here we remember the sign of Jesus before the Last Supper.

Then “Easter Triduum” begins. In Navas Del Pinar, many people go to the font and the choir sings for the last time before Easter Sunday. Before that, the council is held in front of the priest's house in the garden, here the saints and the “banzos”are auctioned and they will take part in the procession on Sunday.

Holy Friday is the first day of the “Easter Triduum”. This day commemorates the death of Jesus. It also celebrates the Passion and burial of Christ and the story of the Passion according to San Juan is read. In Navas Del Pinar, the “banzos” of the holy shrine and who is going to carry in the body of Christ are auctioned while men and women are singing.

Holy Saturday It is the second day of the “Easter Triduum”. As night comes, the “Easter Vigil” takes place. Mass is held in the afternoon and preceeded with the blessing of holy water.

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It takes place as the culmination of “The Holy Week” and a new liturgical period begins, "Easter Resurrection". In Navas Del Pinar the procession starts at 12:30. All the women with all the figures (saints, virgins, crosses ...) leave the church and go to the field, while men with the baby Jesus, come from the other side to reach the same place. At this point, women begin to sing, when all the figures, one by one, have to kneel three times in front of the infant Jesus. When the turn of the Virgin arrives, she is placed in front of the child and on the floor. Then the person, who bid the most to remove the black mourning of the virgin, approaches her and removes the black cloak. The virgin is dressed in white and gold clothes, as a sign of joy due to the resurrection of Jesus. The procession goes back to the church., where they proceed to the “Eucharist”, where the mass take place.

With this “The Holy Week” ends.