VACATION!!!

That's right, I don't have class for the next 10 days. The reason we have a break is because next week is Semana Santa (Holy Week) and pretty much the whole city shuts down for the whole week. Semana Santa is a BIG DEAL here. People flock to this city to celebrate here. There are going to be so many people in the streets for the processions. The streets are PACKED. I'm really excited to be a part of this, though. It's such an experience. I don't even know where to begin to describe it. You should probably google it. Google Semana Santa in Seville, Spain. Oh, one thing I am not looking forward to are the Hermandades (Brotherhoods) who walk through the streets. They are all dressed in costumes that look like the KKK. And even though they are not scary and are a normal sight for people here, I still get scared every time I see a picture or image of one. They are scary. But other than that, and all the people, I am really excited for this week. They have processions everyday with these things called pasos which are these huge float-type things that men carry. These pasos are so heavy that they take about 40-50 men to carry them. And the men kind of hunch over and carry them on their necks. And these processions last a loooooong time. Some can be 12 hours. And on these pasos are images of the passion and death of Christ. Also, they have images of the Virgen Mary. Those pasos are called palios. So all of the churches in Sevilla march from their church to la Catedral in the center of the city. Another interesting fact about Semana Santa, they don't really celebrate Easter. They celebrate the passion and death and suffering of Christ, but not his resurrection. I find this so fascinating because in the U.S., Easter is a big deal. I mean Jesus conquered death. But for the people of Sevilla, they find Easter a sad day because it is the end of Semana Santa. Also, it's not so much of a religious ceremony as it is traditional nowadays. It's been really neat though, learning all about it in my classes and trying the traditional food. Also, the city is being transformed, streets blocked off and risers being brought in. It's crazy. I really can't wait and am very excited that I'll be able to experience this part of their culture. :)