2012 EASTER IN MÁLAGA by Angel Luis Díez López, 4º ESO A

Easter is Málaga's most important festivity because a lot of people come from many countries or many places of Spain to see our processions, but rain always appears and it doesn't permit that different sculptures of Christs and Virgins can go around Málaga's streets.

From two Saturdays ago, many images have been moved so you could see them in our streets.

PALM SUNDAY MORNING: IT'S SUNNY!

Palm Sunday is opened by Pollinica brotherhood. This parade is very waited by children who always wake up early. The "nazarenos" carry olive branches to celebrate Christ arrival in Jerusalén.

While Pollinica is walking around Málaga's roads, the Virgin of "Lágrimas y Favores" leaves from San Juan. Do you know you can see Antonio Banderas, a famous actor who comes from USA,  helping in this parade? He carries the "trono"!

PALM SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT; MANY CLOUDS ARRIVE TO OUR TOWN

When Pollinica enter in its brotherhood house, "Dulce Nombre" leaves from Capuchinos. Last year, it started raining when they were in the Cathedral so they were not sure to leave. "Salutación", "Prendimiento", "Huerto" and "Salud" left too. The latest procession, "Humildad", left because it could start raining. They had to run. Rico's brotherhood house's doors were opened while this procession was passing.
 
EASTER MONDAY: A BROKEN DAY

The rain appears in Málaga. At 16:00 it started raining so "Crucifixión", "Gitanos" and "Pasión" couldn't leave. Last year, "Crucifixión" couldn't complete its itinerary, it rained on "Gitanos" images and "Pasión" had to wait in the Cathedral until Holy Tuesday morning.

Suddenly, the sun started shinning and "Cautivo", "Estudiantes" and "Dolores del Puente" started the visit to the city center. They were lucky.
 
HOLY TUESDAY: IT STARTS RAINING WHILE NUEVA ESPERANZA IS LEAVING

Málaga's girlfriend, the Virgin Rocío, at 15:30 begins her journey. It's cloudy.
Meantime, in Nueva Málaga, a neighborhood of Málaga "Nueva Esperanza" starts the longest parade: it begins at 16:00 and it finishes at 4:00! But it started raining. In 2011, they had to turn around in Mármoles street. This year, they have been brave and they have completed the journey. They were also lucky.
"Penas" could leave too. The virgin's mantle is made out of flowers!
"Rescate", "Sentencia" and "Estrella" could leave too.
 
HOLY WEDNESDAY: IT'S CLOUDY

"Salesianos" and "Fusionadas", the slowest procession with four "tronos" left. When "fusionadas" arrived to Atarazanas, it had to wait an hour because Salesianos was late. It was a very singular moment.

Every year, the "Rico" releases a prisoner in Plaza del Obispo.

"Paloma" brotherhood gives real doves to people. This doves fly near its Virgin because people release them.

The "Sangre" is the most ancient parade. It's very famous because its Christ is very bloody.

If you see the left of "Expiración", you will enjoy with the formation of the Guardia Civil. This year, I have lived a very special moment: the Christ and the Virgin went up the first street without stopping!

HOLY THURSDAY MORNING: THE LEGIONARIOS ARRIVE

You have to wake up early to go to the port because  the Legionarios
 disembark there. Then, you have to go to the move of "Mena".
 
HOLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT: IT STARTS RAINING

This is the best day of the week. The "legionarios" come to Málaga to accompany the parades.

The "Santa Cruz" opens this day. It is a very simple brotherhood but it is very interesting.

The "Cena" is very singular because it has the biggest "trono".

The "Viñeros" is very important too.

But the most important and waited processions are "Mena", "Misericordia", "Zamarrilla" and "Esperanza". The "legionarios" accompany them.
At 23:45, when only "Esperanza" remained in, it started  to rain. The parades who were in the street started running. "Esperanza", by second consecutive year, couldn't leave.
 
GOOD FRIDAY MORNING: THE CHRIST OF MENA BROKE UP

In the Good Friday Morning, by mistake, the Christ of "Mena" fell down and the image lost all its fingers. This Christ is called "the dismembered Christ" because he lost a leg, but it was reppaired. Now, he is again the dismembered Christ!
 
GOOD FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT; IT'S RAINING!

Christ has died and everybody is very sad.

At 17:35, "Dolores" starts its parade.

The "Descendimiento" shows the descent of Christ from the cross.

"Calvario" is a very disconsolate Virgin. This parade left from Monte Calvario and when they were in Vía Dolorosa del Calvario, it started raining. It stopped at 17:15 so all the parades could leave.

In the "Traslado", Christ is carried to the tomb.

In the "Amor", the Virgin is crying thinking about her child.

In the "Piedad", Christ has died and the Virgin is holding him.

The "Sepulcro" shows Christ's tomb. Everybody is silent and the virgin is crying.

But the most different and special procession is "Tercera Orden de Siervos de María Santísima de los Dolores (Servitas)". It is a scary parade. The "nazarenos" ask for forgiveness to the Virgin. While the procession is passing, the lights are out. We can only hear the nazarenos' laments. The Virgin is very simple but it's very scary and beautiful.

At the end of Servitas, in San Felipe Neri, all was quiet when suddenly, a dark music began to sound and a man started singing an opera. It was really creepy and many children started crying.
 
RESURRECTION SUNDAY: THE SUN SHINES

There is only a procession this day : "Resucitado". Christ has raised from the dead and the Virgin is very happy.

“Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move”

Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland.  It is not a federal holiday in USA though they hold a very special celebration in their capital city: “White House Easter Egg Roll”.

The White House held a poster competition and invited elementary and middle school students nationwide to submit poster designs for the 2012 Easter Egg Roll. Students from over 20 states submitted entries. First Lady Michelle Obama selected the winning poster announcing the day. It was created by Breonna Bailey, a 7th grader from Macfarland Middle School in Washington DC. Breonna is 13 years old. The poster incorporates the event theme “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move”, promoting health and wellness in support of the First Lady’s Let's Move! initiative, a national campaign to combat childhood obesity. We are very lucky to have our own Let's Move initiative at Martiricos promoted by Dr Jesús Barrera, one of our PE teachers.

Easter Monday Egg Roll is a big race on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC, sometimes even the President takes part in it. Eggs are rolled down a hill or slope and there is a variety of activities, as well as food and entertainment, for families.

Easter Monday Egg Roll originated on the grounds of the United States Capitol by the mid 1870s. President Hayes and his wife, Lucy, officially opened the White House grounds to the children of the area for egg rolling on 1978 Easter Monday. Successive Presidents continued the tradition, and the event has been held on the South Lawn ever since.
The White House estimates more than 35,000 people will participate, including Dora the Explorer, Katsuma and Poppet from the Moshi Monsters game, Alex the Lion from “Madagascar 3.”

The children attending the event take part in many activities, but rolling a hard-boiled egg across the lawn is still a highlight of the day.

At the end of the day as egg rollers say goodbye, each receives a special presidential wooden egg complete with the signatures of the President and the First Lady. 
The White House Easter egg collection involves a tradition that began in 1994 where each state sends a decorated egg to the White House for display.

Here in Málaga it is not bank holiday, but it is the beginning of our last term before summer holidays. This is the time to study hard to pass all your exams in June and have a wonderful time free from school homework.