(Leer en español) Corpus Christi in Seville is one of the most important days of the year. The procession is celebrated during Thursday morning following Trinity Sunday, 60 days after Palm Sunday. The religious festival is especially important in Seville, being of the few Spanish cities that maintains its celebration original day.
In addition to Thursday, Corpus Christi has events the next weekend in Seville, on Saturday and Sunday. The celebration is dedicated to the body and blood of Jesus since the Middle Ages. It was in Liege (Belgium), on the initiative of Juliana of Cornillon, where the feast of Corpus Christi was established in 1246.
There is evidence of Corpus Christi in Seville from the early fifteenth century, but was in 1532 when the processional route that still remains is established. For centuries the procession was accompanied by dances, giants, bigheaded and tarascas (monsters) to represent the opposite of good, the body of Christ. Currently these figures have been removed from the procession.
The city is decked out to celebrate the Corpus. Highlight the archways at San Francisco square, but all the Seville downtown are decorated to mark the Corpus Day. Throughout the week and especially Wednesday afternoon and night, Sevillian people dress balconies and windows and install Altars in every corner. Such is the tradition and commitment to this practice that a jury awards prizes to the best mounts.
The Cathedral is open to the public on Wednesday afternoon to visit the Pasos. The figures are already waiting for the departure the next morning. Since Wednesday night and especially on Thursday, Sevillian people full the streets of rosemary and aromatic flowers for the Corpus Christi in Seville. Joined to the incense of the procession permeates the city with a very characteristic odor.
Procession of The Corpus Christi In Seville
The morning is lovely and Seville shines with the sound of the Giralda bells. At 8:00 starts Corpus Mass in the Cathedral and the procession depart is at 8:30 with Santa Ángela de la Cruz or San Fernando. There are special moments inside like the dance of Los Seises (the Sixes), a group of 10 children, 6 before, with a long tradition, or the songs performed by the Escolanía Catdralicia (Cathedral children Choir).
The Corpus Christi procession through the streets in Seville during four hours and comes back to the Cathedral around 12:30. Sevillian people and visitors eagerly await the pass in the streets of downtown. There is special attention to areas like the Salvador square, next to the Universal People, Placentines Street, where Pelayo Bar is, and Argote de Molina, with Antigüedades Bar.
After the procession of Corpus Christi in Seville, many of the Pasos undertaken the return to their temples during the Thursday evening. The faithful of each accompany them on their way and the other people enjoy the festive day. Noon and evening is a big party in Seville and all the bars at downtown, Santa Cruz, Arenal, Cathedral and Mateos Gago Street live a wonderful atmosphere.