Nazareno In common with other
Holy Week events in Spain, some participants in the procession use a nazareno or penitential robe. This garment consists of a tunic, a
capirote (hood with conical tip) used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The fabrics normally used in these garments are velvet, damask, satin or twill. The nazarenos of some brotherhoods also include gloves,
scapulars,
stoles and a tunic fastened with a
cincture made of
esparto. The exact colors and forms of the robes depend on the particular brotherhood; in the Málaga procession, their colors are different in the sections of Christ and the Virgin. Usually, the nazarenos carry candles and go in front of the thrones at the leading segments. with the shield of the brotherhood from the
Vineyard Owners Emblem The majority of the brotherhoods carry a significant number of insignia in the procession that are carried by
nazarenos: •
Cross guide (the so-called
Cruz de Guía - Guiding Cross) is carried at the beginning of each procession and is responsible for guiding it. •
Banner (the so-called
Guión) is an emblem of the
cofradía in the form of a folded flag, that carries in the center of the flag
embroidered in thread of gold and silk the shield or arms of the brotherhood. •
Senatus is the name with which it is known to an emblem that serves to recall the time of the
Roman Empire, the period wherein the events of the
Passion of Jesus Christ are set. It bears the letters
SPQR, which is an acronym for the
Latin expression Senatus Populusque Romanus (Senate and people of Rome). •
Book of Rules (in Spanish
Libro de Reglas) is a book that contains the norms and rules of the Brotherhood. with a painting of Mary Most Holy of Grace •
Standard (the so-called
Estandarte) is an insignia, sometimes
embroidered in gold thread and luxuriously decorated, with a painting of the Christ or Virgin of each brotherhood.
Mantilla Some processions are accompanied by women who wear
mantillas. It is formed by a black dress, a sign of
mourning and pains, is accompanied by a mantilla, lace or silk veil or shawl worn over the head and back. The
peineta, similar in appearance to a large comb, is used to hold up the mantilla.
Acolyte Before the throne are placed a group of six or eight
acolytes dressed in
vestments, many of them wearing
dalmatics; the
ceroferarios who carries the
ciriales or processional
candlestick; and the
thurifers who carries the
thurible where
incense is burned and it is dispersed.
Throne The thrones, in others places called
pasos, are enormous platforms where are located the sculptures that depict different scenes from the gospels related to the
Passion of Christ or the
Sorrows of Virgin Mary. Each brotherhood usually exhibit two thrones, the first one would be a sculpted scene of the
Passion, or image of
Christ; and the second an image of the
Virgin Mary, known as a
dolorosa. The structure of the thrones, known as , is richly carved in wood,
silver,
bronze or
nickel silver and some gilt with
gold leaf. In each of the corners of the is placed the (
candelabra) or
lantern to illuminate the image or sculptural group that is located in the upper part of the . The thrones of Christ are adorned at the top with carpet of flowers such as
carnations or
iris, or a mountain of
corks, while most of the Virgin's thrones are covered by an ornate canopy secured to the by 12 or 16 palio bars. From the front, back and sides of the canopy hang the
bambalinas, velvet or mesh
draperies embroidered in gold, plate and silk. In front of the image of the Virgin is placed the
candelería, a set of
candlesticks which are placed in a stepped layout. Thrones are carried on the shoulders of men and women, called men of thrones or bearers, through long bars or beams called
varales, which usually measure between 8 and 14 meters long. Each throne has 6 or 8
varales depending on the size of the throne. Depending on weight, some can weigh up to 5
tonnes, a throne requires between 120 and 270
portadores (bearers) to move. Each person can carry between 20 and 40 kilograms of weight, although unfortunately during the
burning of churches and convents in the 1931 riots, a great number of these sculptures were destroyed, between them the great majority of works of
Pedro de Mena y Medrano. After the
Civil War, authors such as
Mariano Benlliure y Gil,
Francisco Palma Burgos,
Antonio Castillo Lastrucci or
José-Navas Parejo Pérez began to make new sculptures to replace the destroyed works. These sculptures are in their respective
churches and
chapels during the rest of the year where they receive veneration. The images of Jesus are situated on the first throne, which represents a biblical passage of the
Gospels:
triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
Jesus carrying the cross,
Jesus crucified,
descent from the Cross, etc. Depending on the scene depicted the carving of Jesus may appear alone or accompanied by other statues related to the biblical passage. Some images of Christ wear tunics, smooth or richly embroidered over much of its surface. In the second throne is located the Virgin of Sorrow, mostly alone but sometimes accompanied by sculpture
St. John the Evangelist. The statue of the Virgin usually is of a mannequin, with only the hands and the head carved. The body and arms are covered with luxurious dresses embroidered with gold and silver thread as well as colored
silks. Around the head is placed a
veil and usually carry a
crown or
halo. In the back is placed long capes embroidered in gold and silver thread and taking forms that are generally inspired by vegetable motifs, in Malaga these capes can reach up to 8 meters in length.
Music ;Bands Most of the thrones are accompanied by
marching bands. Each procession usually has 3 bands, the first band, a
drum and bugle band is located behind the lead cross. The second band walks behind the first float, this
band is usually of
bugles and drums,
military band or
concert band with
woodwind instrument,
brass instrument and
percussion. Finally, the throne of the virgin is only accompanied by a
concert band. Many of these bands are created by the brotherhoods themselves, a few being made up of personnel of the Armed Forces. These bands play processional
marches during processions, most of these marches have been created to accompany the movement of the thrones. It is a tradition that the
Marcha Real is played at the departure and entrance of the images in the home churches or chapels of the confraternities and once it is played, everyone pays respect to the anthem (military, police and fire personnel out of formation salute when it is performed). ;Saeta As throughout the Spanish world, and especially in
Andalucía, during the processions
saetas are sung to the sculptures. The saeta is a religious song, generally improvised and without accompaniment, which is usually sung from a balcony or on the street. It is a melody of free and full of lyricism. It recalls the style of
cante jondo typical of the musical tradition of
flamenco. ==The Route==