From Ramos to Resurrection: the big week of Ferrol and Viveiro is approaching

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the brotherhoods of Viveiro and Ferrol will live the moment for which they have been preparing all year long. The Holy Week of both municipalities have been declared Festivities of International Tourist Interest.

Holy Week of Viveiro

The origin of the famous Holy Week of Viveiro goes back to the XIII century, moment in which the mendicant orders of Franciscans and Dominicans settle down that had as objective to spread the Passion of Christ of a simple form to make arrive its message to the population, according to they indicate from the department of tourism of the Concello.

The confraternities have been formed over the centuries, the oldest being the Venerable Franciscan Third Order and the Illustrious and Venerable Brotherhood of the Most Holy Rosary. To these, were added the Brotherhood of the Holy Christ of Mercy in 1944, from which were born the brotherhoods of the Prendimiento, of the Seven Words and of Santa Cruz; the Brotherhood of "O Nazareno dos de Fóra"; and, in 2006, the Brotherhood of Mercy.

The appointment with the brotherhoods of Vivero was declared of National Tourist Interest in 1988 and it would be in 2013 when it obtained the recognition of International Tourist Interest.

The celebrations within the framework of the Holy Week of Viveiro began last March 9 with the conference "As mulleres nos relatos evanxélicos da Paixón", by Antonio Menduiña Santomé, rector of the Minor Seminary San Pelayo of the diocese Tui-Vigo. This lecture was followed by concerts by the Choir of the Music Conservatory of Viveiro, the O Landro de Viveiro Music Band, the Chamber Ensemble of the Music Conservatory of Viveiro and the SondeNós Choir.

Also, on Sunday 19 will be enjoyed the projection of the film Claret, on Friday 24 the concert of the Choir of the Symphonic Orchestra of Galicia, on Saturday 25 of the XI Contest of Bands of the City of Viveiro, on Tuesday 28 of the conference "Ser cofrade, una forma de ser cristián" and, on Saturday 1 of April, of the presentation of the book "Escultores Rivas Varela, de Riotorto a Compostela" and the proclamation of the Holy Week of Viveiro at the hands of Emilio Xosé Insua López.

Of between the most showy acts in this week, it is possible to be mentioned the procession of the Última Cena and that of the Prendimiento, in Holy Thursday, the procession of the Encounter, the Desenclavo and the procession of the Santo Entierro, in Viernes Santo.

Holy Week of Ferrol

Its roots date back to the 17th century and it was declared of International Tourist Interest in 2014. With more than 400 years of history, the uniqueness of Ferrol's Holy Week lies, according to Ferrolians, in a collective construction in which people who came from different parts of the country to work in the shipyards and the Navy participated.

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday there are about twenty processions through the streets of the historic district of La Magdalena, led by the five brotherhoods that the city has.

We will find the Brotherhood of Las Angustias, with more than 250 years of history; the Brotherhood of Dolores, founded in 1992 after the merger of the Brotherhood of Santísimo Cristo de la Compasión (1945) and the Brotherhood of María Santísima de los Dolores, whose origins date back to the 13th century; the Brotherhood of La Merced, related to the Brotherhood of La Merced, whose origins date back to the 13th century; that of La Merced, related to the school of the Mercedarian Fathers in Ferrol; that of Santo Entierro, which was born on the initiative of a group of brotherhoods of Dolores in 1950; and that of Soledad, founded in 1957 and responsible for the processions of Soledad and Ecce Homo.

Although the program is extensive, the processions of Viernes Santo stand out: from early in the morning until late at night, visitors can witness the procession of the Holy Encounter, the Holy Burial and the impressive night procession of the Caladiños.

Although these are the most famous religious celebrations in Galicia, the whole community has a deep-rooted tradition in Holy Week. In addition to these celebrations, the Holy Christ of Fisterra and the Holy Week of Cangas, Paradela, Betanzos, Mondoñedo, Santiago de Compostela and Lugo, Galician Festivals of Tourist Interest.