Our Easter. Article written by Ángel Luis Díez López 3ºESO B

In my city, Easter is a very important festivity. Tourists come from many countries to see our processions.

Different sculptures of Christ and Virgins go around Málaga´s streets in spring nights.

PALM SUNDAY

Every Palm Sunday, Pollinica brotherhood visits Malaga´s city center. The “nazarenos” carry olive branches to celebrate Christ arrival in Jerusalen.

The “Lágrimas y Favores” Virgin walks around Málaga in Palm Sunday morning too. Antonio Banderas, a very famous actor, comes from USA to help in the procession.

At 3 o´clock, “Dulce Nombre” brotherhood gives us a serious and rigorous environment.

After 45 minutes, the “ Salutación” steps Málaga´s roads.

In “el Ejido”, the “Prendimiento” prepares to leave.

15 minutes after that, the “Huerto” leaves from Mártires in search of our city center. It shows a very special Christ praying in a garden.

At 17:15, “Salud” brotherhood leaves from San Pablo, in Trinidad.

The last procession is “Humildad”. This procession is called “Servitas Blancos” because they are very silent.

EASTER MONDAY

It is a very special day in Málaga.

Monday is opened by “Crucifixión”. It comes from “El Ejido”. From start to finish, the “portadores” wear two fantastic “tronos”: a crucified Christ and a sad Virgin.

The second procession, at 17:15, is “Gitanos” in Los Frailes. It is a very singular parade. People sing “saetas (songs)” to the images. A Christ tied to a column and María de la O. If you are gypsy, this is your procession!

If you live near “los Mártires” you have to see “La Pasión”. It is very special because there are two “tronos”: a very handsome Christ and a desperate Virgin.

At 19:00, near the Roman theater, “Estudiantes” brotherhood begins its journey.

From Santo Domingo, “Dolores del Puente”, goes out in procesión at 20:00. There are two images of crucified Christ in the first “trono”, in the second “trono”, the virgin is crying.

But the most special and waited parade is “El Cautivo”. This is a very simple image but it´s very beautiful. It is Málaga´s most famous procession.

HOLY TUESDAY

It is a good day.

At 15:30, from “La Victoria”, “Rocio” brotherhood begins it journey. The virgin “Rocio” is very special in Málaga because it is Málaga´s girlfriend.

After 30 minutes the “Nueva Esperanza” is preparing to leave. That procession starts at 16:00 and it finishes at 4:00! It is the longest parade of the day and people have to be walking for 12 hours!

But it´s very interesting: the Christ is carrying a cross.

The “Penas” brotherhood is very special too. The Christ is very normal but the Virgin´s mantle is very different: it is done with flowers!

The “Rescate” and the “Sentencia” are very similar but they are very interesting so you have to see them both.

The “Estrella” brotherhood is very beautiful: its Virgin is crying and it´s very startling.

HOLY WEDNESDAY

“Salesianos” are the earliest parade. It is a very serious procession and it only has one “trono”,

“Fusionadas” is very special with 4 “tronos”. It´s the slowest procession so you should sit down.

Every year, the “Rico” brotherhodd releases a prisoner. It is a very old tradition and it´s very exciting too.

The “Paloma” is very well known too. Some doves fly near its Virgin.

The “Sangre” is a very ancient brotherhood. The Christ is crucified and it is very bloody.

“Expiración” closes this day. It is a very beautiful brotherhood.

HOLY THURSDAY

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.

GOOD FRIDAY

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.

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 diferent and special procesion 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 nazarenos´s laments. The Virgin is very simple but it´s very scary and beautiful.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

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

50 years ago...

As you may probably know by now, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nuestra Señora de la Victoria this year. For this reason, some students from 2º ESO want to show you the things children used to have for breakfast in the 1960s in comparison to the things they have nowadays.

They brought the cakes and drinks into class and after the lesson they ate them all, yummy, yummy!

PS, the giant chocolate cake was made by Álvaro, and he will love to give you the recipe!

SPRING IS HERE

Spring has come again, and here we are worried about marks and end of second term activities. I propose you an activity, what about sharing poetry with your friends?

It could be a long poem on spring like this one by Christina Rossetti:

Frost-locked all the winter,

Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits,

What shall make their sap ascend

That they may put forth shoots?

Tips of tender green,

Leaf, or blade, or sheath;

Telling of the hidden life

That breaks forth underneath,

Life nursed in its grave by Death.

Blows the thaw-wind pleasantly,

Drips the soaking rain,

By fits looks down the waking sun:

Young grass springs on the plain;

Young leaves clothe early hedgerow trees;

Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits,

Swollen with sap put forth their shoots;

Curled headed ferns sprout in the lane;

Birds sing and pair again.

There is no time like Spring,

When life`s alive in everything,

Before new nestlings sing,

Before cleft swallows speed their journey back

Along the trackless track-

God guides their wing,

He spreads their table that they nothing lack,-

Before the daisy grows a common flower,

Before the sun has power

To scorch the world up in his noontide hour.

There is no time like Spring,

Like Spring that passes by:

There is no life like Spring-life born to die,-

Piercing the sod,

Clothing the uncouth clod,

Hatched in the nest,

Fledged on the windy bow,

Strong on the wing;

There is no time like Spring that passes by,

Now newly born, and now

Hastening to die.

Or it could just be a short one like this poem by the same author:

Who Has Seen the Wind?
by Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you;
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I;
But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing by.

Give your favourite poems to your teachers to have them published here.