Maundy Thursday Penitential Street Processions, Bilbao 2009

Maundy Thursday - Jueves Santo

Should you find yourself in the Basque city of Bilbao during the course of Aste Santua/ Semana Santa, chances are you'll find your evening stroll through the back-streets of Casco Viejo somewhat enhanced, if not a little delayed and diverted, by the processions of 'pasos', gaudily decorated figures on great wooden berths depicting scenes from the final days of Christ, borne aloft by various Religious Brotherhoods of Holy Penitence, with each parish carying its own paso, as pictured to the right.

The various groups are defined by the cut and colour of their costume, all of whom are accompanied by blaring cornets and bugles, to the rattling beat of the drumstick.

Each day of Easter is observed by relevantly themed processions, and on this occasion, I braved the mild breeze and slight drizzle to take a few pictures of the Maundy Thursday observances, the day which traditionally marks the Last Supper.

For some detail on the history of some of these parochial brotherhoods, this PDF offers something of a brief insight.

see also : El Mundo - Bilbao Pone Pasión a la Semana Santa