Holy week in Gaucín

MARÍA DOLORES SANJUAN

THE TRADITION OF HOLY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY TOLD BY MARIA DOLORES SANJUAN

 María Dolores San Juan Salas, author and reader of the Holy Week oration Gaucín 2023, spoke to us of her childhood memories of Holy Thursday and Good Friday here in Gaucin. Her words were both moving and interesting, revealing much about the Easter traditions in Andalusia. Here follows a brief extract of her speech:
“In addition to my experiences, I carry with me the memories told by my mother, who
likewise remembered stories from her mother.”

On HOLY THURSDAY, we would prepare the traditional chard stew (potaje con acelgas) and the famous cod fritters (tortillitas de bacalao). In those days they would not have much cod, so this was a special treat. Dessert was rice pudding (arroz con leche) and for afternoon tea the sweet torrijas would be served (a very popular type of sweet bread traditionally eaten during Easter). Though during my childhood we would more likely eat fried bread covered with sugar, which were more economical back then. My Mother told me that in her house, on Holy Thursday, the coffee for Good Friday was left already ground in the mortar, because it was a day of mourning and no noise should be made. In the afternoon we would attend the Easter Mass, where we remembered last supper of Jesus with his disciples. At the end of the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession to the place of rest away from the main body of the church. From then on, everything was silent. The women would have a schedule where they would remain in the church to watch and pray before the Lord until the arrival of the Holy Offices on Good Friday. It was a long night, the doors of the church remained open and silence reigned so as not to disturb the people who were immersed in their meditation and prayer.

ON GOOD FRIDAY, we remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
According to what they told me at home, before I remembered my own experiences, it
was a day when life seemed to have stopped, it was a day to watch and pray. The Vigillia was strictly respected. The women did not do their daily chores or make noise, they already had the food cooked the day before and could be free from chores to experience Good Friday. The men did not go out to work, but instead attended Los Santos Oficios, the Easter church services Both women and men dressed in their best clothes for these celebrations.
My mother also told me that, until the 1950s, the procession of the Santo Entierro was only accompanied by men, whereas the Soledad procession was only allowed to be accompanied by women.

On Good Friday, just as we celebrate the death of Jesus, we must ask that together with his Mother, Nuestra Señora Soledad, all that we do wrong to our neighbor must also die, and we must not not only make peace with our words but also with our actions. We must never forget that Mother that left her Son in the “Sepulchre,” that is why we pray to her,

“You will never be alone, Soledad!”

SALVADORA VALDIVIA TOLEDANO 

GAUCÍN HOLY WEEK PROGRAMME 2025

SUNDAY APRIL 13

11.00h. Palm Sunday Procession accompanied by the children in biblical costumes and the village band. Departure from Portichuelo and then proceeding along Calle Nueva to the church.

11:30 h. Holy Mass for Palm Sunday

EASTER TUESDAY APRIL 15

19.00 Stations of the cross.

EASTER THURSDAY APRIL 17

19:00 h. Mass celebrating the last supper 

19.45 h. Procession N.P Jesús Nazareno through the streets of the village.

23.00 h. Holy Hour in the church

EASTER FRIDAY APRIL 18

12.00 h. Stations of the Cross inside the church

16:30 h. Good Friday Service

17.30 h. Solemn Procession accompanied by the village band and women wearing the Mantilla, the traditional lace or silk veil.

EASTER SATURDAY APRIL 19

23.00 h. Easter Vigil Service

PRE BULL PARTY  April 19

12:00 h. The Toro Infantil or pretend bull run for the kids starting in the plaza del 

Santo Niño. 

16:00 h. DJ music in the municipal Pavillon 

BULL RUN EASTER SUNDAY 20

Please pay attention to the route (closed circuit) of the bulls and the scheduled time for the departures of each of the three bulls:

10:30, 12:00, 16:00 h.