The opening of Holy Week 2025 was an enormous success in Ronda. Three processions took to the streets and nothing was marred by the expected rain.
First off at 10:30 within the morning was El Pollinico, with its sensible papal colors of yellow and white.
That is the procession whose statuary depicts Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Luke’s gospel (19:36) tells us that the folks unfold their cloaks on the bottom, in order that Jesus’ donkey wouldn’t need to stroll on filth.
Matthew provides (21:8) that the multitude additionally unfold palm fronds on the bottom – therefore ‘Palm Sunday’.
Biblical students say that this episode exhibits the humility of Jesus, selecting a donkey somewhat than a horse, and it additionally fulfils an Previous Testomony prophecy by Zechariah.
It enhances our sense of dread, as a result of we’re conscious of the heavy irony: inside days, this crowd will flip towards Jesus, and he’ll die an agonising loss of life.
The brotherhood which levels this procession is predicated within the church of San Antonio, within the Ronda neighbourhood of La Dehesa. Yesterday its two floats had been accompanied by the bands Dulce Nombre de Jesús from Marchena and the Granatensis Musical Union.
Subsequent to go away its residence church was El Prendimiento, which set off from San Cristóbal at 5pm.
The scene depicted by this float is without doubt one of the extra elaborate Easter enactments. Judas has betrayed Jesus, who’s now being seized by two Roman troopers.
On condition that the Bible units this scene on the Mount of Olives, the designers couldn’t resist including a dwelling olive tree to provide the entire thing a contact of authenticity!
By the point the procession acquired again to San Cristóbal at 11pm, the contributors had been marching (and carrying the float!) for six hours.
The 2 bands taking part in for the procession had been Nuestra Señora de Gracia from Carmona and Arunda, Ronda’s very personal brass band.
Lastly, Padre Jesús y María de la Amargura took to the road at 7pm. That is the gypsies’ procession.
Ronda has a big and thriving gypsy inhabitants, well-known for its devotion to its Brotherhood.
The statue of Christ is unadorned.
The Virgin’s statue is the topic of a lot veneration. ‘Mary of the Bitterness’ is proven weeping, as a result of the Mom of Jesus is claimed to have suffered enormously throughout her lifetime.
The gypsy girls establish along with her, seeing her as an emblem of their very own unhappiness.
Not solely are the 2 floats carried by gypsies, however when the procession ends a bit of after midnight, many gypsies collect exterior the Santa María la Mayor church with guitars and tambourines, for an impromptu sing-song.
The bands yesterday had been ‘La Unión’ of Montilla and ‘Maestro Paco Tenorio’ from Arriate.
Every procession makde its strategy to the Socorro Church, the place a quick service happened earlier than the return journey to their residence parishes.
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