Why does the date change each year?
Easter and its related holidays are movable feasts, meaning they do not fall on the same date each year. Their timing is based on a lunisolar calendar, similar to the Hebrew calendar. The method for calculating Easter was first established at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, though it took centuries for a consistent system to be widely adopted.
In Western Christianity, which follows the Gregorian calendar, Easter falls on a Sunday between 22 March and 25 April. The earliest possible date, 22 March, last occurred in 1818 and will not occur again until 2285. The latest possible date, 25 April, will next occur in 2038. Regardless of the exact date, Holy Week remains one of the most important periods in Spain.
Wear something new!
Holy Week begins with ‘Domingo de Ramos’ (Spanish) or ‘Diumenge de Rams’ (Catalan), known in English as Palm Sunday. In Spain, it is traditional to wear something new on this day. A well-known saying goes: ‘Domingo de Ramos: al que no estrena se le caen las manos’, roughly meaning that if you do not wear something new, your hands will fall off.
Good Friday is a public holiday across Spain. Easter Monday is also a public holiday in Catalunya, although not in all regions of the country. In contrast, Holy Thursday is observed as a holiday in much of Spain, but not in Catalunya. Public holidays, therefore, vary slightly between regions.
Egg-laying rabbits?
Many Easter traditions have older, pre-Christian origins. Eggs, for example, have long symbolised rebirth and new life. In spring, they were often decorated and given as gifts, a practice that continues today in the form of Easter eggs.
The Easter Bunny also has roots in pre-Christian traditions. In parts of Europe, the fertility goddess Eostre was associated with spring, and rabbits became a natural symbol of renewal. Over time, this evolved into the idea of a rabbit or hare, known as ‘Osterhase’, bringing eggs to children, which later developed into the modern Easter Bunny tradition.
As Christianity spread, some of these traditions were incorporated into religious narratives. One story suggests that Mary Magdalene brought eggs to the crucifixion of Jesus, where drops of his blood turned them red.
Easter Gastronomy
Another common Lenten tradition is the donut-like ‘bunyol’. Bunyols are often prepared on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. They are sweet, light, and similar to a doughnut but without a hole. They were allowed during fasting periods, which explains their popularity.
The ‘Tortell de Rams’ is another traditional cake, usually eaten after church on Palm Sunday. Variations depend on the bakery, but it is typically ring-shaped and made with marzipan.
Finally, ‘La Mona de Pasqua’ is given by godparents to their godchildren on Easter Monday, marking the end of Lent. The name comes from the Arabic word ‘munna’, meaning gift. Traditionally, the cake was topped with hard-boiled eggs, often matching the child’s age.
Holy Week Processions
Holy Week is celebrated with processions throughout Spain, from large, elaborate events to smaller local traditions. The most well-known take place in Andalucía, especially in Sevilla and Málaga, where religious processions are combined with a more festive atmosphere.
Further north, including parts of Castilla-La Mancha, the tone is generally more subdued and serious.
In the province of Girona, processions take place in several towns, including Girona, Verges, Besalú, Sant Hilari Sacalm, and Bellcaire. In Girona, up to twelve ‘cofradías’ (brotherhoods) took part in a slow procession on Good Friday evening, beginning at the cathedral and moving through the historic centre.
In Sant Hilari Sacalm, a longstanding procession recreates the ‘Way of the Cross’, while in Besalú, the ‘Procession of the Sorrows’ is also held on Good Friday.
Dance of Death
One of the most distinctive local traditions is the Dance of Death in Verges, held on Holy Thursday. The procession moves through the village at night, lit by torches, and forms part of a wider programme of scenes and rituals.
Today, Holy Week in Catalunya combines religious traditions, local customs, and seasonal food, which can still be seen in towns and villages during Easter.