Behaving around churches and Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions

Terms used

• Semana Santa — Semana Santa is Holy Week, the week before Easter, when brotherhoods hold religious processions in Spanish towns and cities.
• Pasos — The pasos are the large decorated floats carried through the streets in Holy Week processions.
• Nazarenos — The nazarenos are brotherhood members who walk in processions wearing robes and pointed hoods.
• Saetas — Saetas are short sung prayers performed as a float passes during Holy Week.

Key rules

• Dress: Cover your shoulders and knees when you enter a church.
• Processions: Never cross between nazarenos or in front of a float, and do not touch penitents or floats.
• Communion: If you are not Catholic, stay seated or let others pass; nobody will question you.
• Photos: Obey the signs at each church and never use flash at a procession.

The short version

Dress modestly, stay quiet, and never block a procession. You do not have to take part in worship. Sitting or standing quietly is welcome. Photo rules are generally relaxed in public streets and stricter inside churches.

What to wear and how to act in a church

Cover your shoulders and knees. Avoid beachwear, very short shorts and low-cut tops. Some cathedrals and major churches check this at the door. Men may be asked to take off their hats.

Speak quietly and silence your phone. Do not walk around during services. Do not cross the sanctuary or visit side chapels while worship is happening.

Many cathedrals and large churches charge an entrance fee. They also set visiting hours, and these usually exclude Mass times. Check the hours and the price for the church you plan to visit, as both differ and change.

If you attend Mass, a wedding or a funeral

You can attend respectfully without doing everything the congregation does. Stand when others stand and sit when they sit. Kneeling, singing, responses and making the sign of the cross are all optional.

Communion is meant for Catholics. If you are not Catholic, stay seated or let others pass. You can also cross your arms over your chest to ask the priest for a blessing. Nobody will question you.

At weddings and funerals there is often a handshake or sign of peace ("la paz"). You can join in. This applies to Catholic ceremonies. Civil weddings have none of these rituals.

Behaving at Semana Santa processions

Semana Santa is Holy Week, the week before Easter. Brotherhoods carry large floats (pasos) through the streets. Members walk in robes and pointed hoods (nazarenos).

• Stay behind the barriers or the crowd line.
• Never cross between nazarenos or in front of a paso.
• Do not touch the penitents or the floats.
• Keep quiet as a float passes, especially during saetas (sung prayers) and silent processions.
• Avoid loud talk and keep children and pets under control.
• Avoid revealing clothing.
• Follow instructions from police and organisers.

Arrive early if you want a good place, and expect long waits. Each brotherhood and city council publishes its routes and times, and these vary by city.

Photos

Photos at processions in public streets are generally allowed and common. Do not use flash, and do not push people aside to get a shot.

Inside churches, rules vary. Many allow photos without flash outside services. Some cathedrals and chapels ban photography in part or all of the building. Monasteries and convents often ban it. Signs at the entrance give the rule, and staff enforce it. Paid sites such as the Sagrada Família set their own rules.

Do not take photos during Mass, weddings or funerals unless the family asks you to. Tripods and drones are often banned or need a permit.

Be respectful when photographing children or private individuals. Publishing images of identifiable people can raise privacy issues.

The questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I photograph people at a Semana Santa procession?

Yes, photos in public streets are generally allowed and common, but avoid flash and do not push anyone aside. Be careful with children and private individuals.

What should I do at communion if I am not Catholic?

Stay seated or let others pass, because communion is meant for Catholics. You can cross your arms over your chest to receive a blessing from the priest. Nobody will question this.

Do I have to kneel or sing at a Catholic wedding or funeral?

No, kneeling, making the sign of the cross, singing and responses are all optional. Stand when others stand and sit when they sit. You can join the handshake of peace ("la paz") if you wish.

Can I visit a cathedral during Mass?

Usually not as a sightseer, because visiting hours at many cathedrals and large churches exclude Mass times. Many also charge an entrance fee. During worship, do not cross the sanctuary or visit chapels.