La Semana Santa es una de las celebraciones por excelencia de nuestra localidad, experimentando un importante resurgir en las últimas décadas. Cada año, las calles de Casariche se llenan de fervor, donde propios y visitantes se agolpan para venerar y ver procesionar sus Imágenes Sagradas.
The processional parades that take place during these days are the following:
On Palm Sunday, the Holy Week begins with the procession of the Asociación Cultural Cofrade de la Entrada Triunfal de Jesús en Jerusalén (La Borriquita). Its author is Domingo García Espejo, and it is the most recent “paso” (2009). It has a total amount of 242 hermanos, and during the procession it is accompanied by dozens of children with palms.
It departs from Triana Avenue, which is the neighborhood where the “paso” is kept.
On Holy Thursday, the procession takes place by two “pasos” of the Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús Cautivo y Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, which is a “cofradía” that dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. Both images were created by Antonio Castillo Lastrucci (The Virgin was created in 1937, whereas the Cautivo in 1953), since the previous pasos were destroyed in 1936. Both “pasos” departs from the Chapel of the Hermandad. The Nazarenes, depending on the paso they accompany, dress differently. Those that follow Jesús Cautivo wear a white tunic, purple cape and hood with the Trinitarian Cross as insignia, while those that accompany the Virgin wear a blue tunic, black cape and hood with a heart of seven daggers stuck in it as an insignia.
During the morning of Good Friday, the procession of the Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno y María Santísima de la Esperanza takes place. As same as the previous one, this hermandad has two pasos. Moreover, this cofradia was founded during the beginning of the 18th century. The image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno is the oldest of the town. Its author is anonymous, although it has been attributed to Andrés de Carvajal, an imaginero whose production occurs during the second half of the 18th century in Antequera. The image of the Dolorosa is made by Juan Ventura González in 1993.
The procession begins from the Chapel of the Hermandad, with Nazarenes wearing a purple tunic with white buttons, purple mask, white cape and a yellow cincture.
On the evening of Good Friday, the procession of the “paso” of the Hermandad del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración takes place. It is widely known as the Cristo de los Obreros (The Laborer´s Christ), since this Hermandad was founded by youngsters from the Juventudes Obreras de Acción Católica in 1947. Also, because of the social labor from the “Hermandad” to offer jobs to the unemployed. The image of this Christ goes back to this same year, as it was acquired in Olot. There is a total of 350 hermanos who wear black tunic and a white cape with the brand of the Hermandad stuck in it as an insignia.
The image departs from the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación and one of the most remarkable thing to mention is the fact that the paso goes through the Triana Bridge once night falls.
On the evening of Holy Saturday, the Hermandad del Santo Sepulcro takes off. This image was copied from the previous one, which was destroyed in 1936. Its author is Manuel Echegoyán Gonzalez and it was made in 1942, however it did not go out on “procesión” until a few years later. Due to its arms being articulated, it could show a Crucified Christ or a laying Christ (as it is venerated today).
Its banner bears an emblem with a cross on which a ladder rests and a shroud hangs over one arm. The Hermanos wear a black tunic and hood which are edged in yellow, including the collar and sleeves. Whereas, the belt is made of esparto grass.
On Easter Sunday, the Holy Week of Casariche ends with the “procesión de Gloria” which consists on the “paso” of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. The importance of this Virgin is due to the fact that it is known as the Patron Virgin Saint of the village and the one that gives name to the church of the town as well. Devotion to the Virgin among the inhabitants of Casariche has only increased over the centuries.
Its original image was destroyed in 1936. Nonetheless, a new image was acquired during the same year by Antonio Castillo Lastrucci. Until the 1950s it used to go on “procesion” with the paso of Santiago Apostol on the 25th of July (which is the Patron Day). After this, the “procesion” was shifted to the evening of Easter Sunday until nowadays. It has 220 Hermanos and the majority of them are women.
It is worth mentioning the famous “cuartelillos de Cuaresma”, which are taverns owned by the Hermanos. There, brothers and sympathizers meet to eat, drink and share experiences, while at the same time collaborating in preparation for the imminent processional parades.
In each one of them you can see a multitude of pictures and decorations, while you can breathe the typical aroma of incense and listen to the popular processional marches.
