Easter in Spain is a very important holiday and comes with lots of traditions and celebrations. Although we won’t be celebrating Easter or Pascua in the usual ways this year, there are still many traditions you can get to know and try out! Let’s take a look at some of them…
‘Semana Santa Marinera’
The Semana Santa in Spain refers to the Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a time of celebration, parades and festivities. The biggest Semana Santa parade can be seen in Sevilla and draws big crowds to the city streets!
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In Valencia we have the Semana Santa Marinera which involves parades along the streets of the Marítim area of Valencia. Of course, this year we won’t get to see the parades take place, due to Covid restrictions, but you can still find out more about them at the Semana Santa Marinera Museum. You’ll find an Easter exhibition there which gives more information about local celebrations during the Semana Santa week. It’s not the same as the real thing but it can definitely make up for some of the lost celebrations this year!
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Typical Easter Events
For Spaniards at Easter time it is a chance to get together with friends and family. Usually people get out of the city and go to a local park, nature reserve or outdoor location. Picnics and barbecues are common if the weather is good!
Popular activities over the Easter weekend include flying kites or playing games with friends and family. Spanish culture is very family oriented and so this can be seen in their typical Easter celebrations.
Easter Foods
The most famous and popular
Easter food to try is the
Mona de Pascua. Leading up to Easter bakeries and supermarkets will be full of this sweet sponge-like cake. It has a looped shape and comes with a painted boiled egg on the top.
Nowadays this traditional snack has evolved so you can find varieties with chocolate toppings and a chocolate egg instead. In addition to the Mona de Pascua, Spaniards love to eat
Longaniza de Pascua at Easter time too. It is like a long dried sausage and definitely a savory favorite. And of course, chocolate eggs for kids are all around too!
Stay Safe
Last but not least we advise you to stick to the health and safety regulations over the holidays. There is a perimetral lockdown over Easter so you must stay in your region. There are so many great nature parks, beaches, squares and beautiful locations in the region of Valencia to enjoy this Easter. Hopefully next year, we will be able to celebrate with all the usual festivities once more!