Jumilla Holy Week was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in May 2019, received the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia in 2000, and boasts more than 600 years of history, making it one of the oldest Holy Week celebrations in Spain. Its origins date back to 18 September 1411, when Saint Vincent Ferrer preached in the town of Jumilla. Inspired by his sermons, the town began to organise its first processions, leading to the creation of the first brotherhood, “Nuestra Señora del Rosario”, and the celebration of the oldest of Jumilla’s processions, held on Holy Thursday.

Holy Week is organised by the Central Board of Holy Week Brotherhoods, founded in 1979 and made up of 20 brotherhoods and confraternities, which together parade a total of 56 procession floats.

The celebrations begin with the “Via Crucis” on the Friday of Sorrows. Palm Sunday features the Procession of the Palms. Holy Monday hosts the youngest procession, The Promises of the Holy Rosary. On Holy Tuesday, the penitential Procession of Silence takes place. Holy Wednesday sees the Jesus Taken Prisoner procession. On Holy Thursday afternoon, the Manolas procession, accompanied by its own musical score composed by Julián Santos, is followed by the Mantillas of Holy Thursday, and later that night by the Procession of Bitterness. Good Friday includes two major processions, El Calvario in the morning and the Holy Burial in the evening. Holy Saturday features The Redemption, the only procession in which a float is carried on shoulders. The celebrations conclude on Easter Sunday with the Procession of the Resurrected Christ.

One of the great treasures of Jumilla Holy Week is the outstanding artistic quality of its images and floats, created by some of the finest sculptors and woodcarvers throughout history. Equally important is its distinctive musical heritage, with original compositions by composers such as Alfredo Santos, Julián Santos, Eugenio Santos and Roque Baños.

For more information, please visit semanasanta-jumilla.es