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Diario Euskadi

Bilbao's Holy Week Attracts More Public Despite Rain

The Brotherhood of Cofradías in Bilbao reports an increase to over 4,350 participating cofrades, even with several processions canceled due to bad weather.

Generic image of a wet street in Bilbao at night, with blurred reflections of lights.
IA

Generic image of a wet street in Bilbao at night, with blurred reflections of lights.

The Brotherhood of Penitential Cofradías of Bilbao has issued a "satisfactory" assessment of Holy Week, an edition marked by rain, with approximately 4,350 cofrades participating.

Adverse weather conditions forced the suspension of several processions, including those of Caridad, Soledad, Salud, and Santa Cena, and diminished the conclusion of the Nazareno procession. Nevertheless, the cofradías celebrate an "increase" in both public attendance and the number of participating cofrades, estimated at around 4,350.
In a press release issued this Monday, the Brotherhood expressed its "surprise" at the public's response to the procession cancellations. They explained that the "loyalty" of attendees was particularly evident in the events organized by the cofradías to replace those canceled due to rain.
This was the case, for example, on Holy Wednesday, when the cofradía of Santa Vera Cruz suspended the Caridad procession and, instead, displayed the image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad at the entrance of the Santos Juanes church, where a salve was sung. The same occurred the following day, Holy Thursday. On that occasion, the Virgin was accompanied by the image of San Juan and the trumpet and drum band of the Begoña cofradía. In both instances, the Brotherhood highlighted that "the public filled the temples and their surroundings".
Holy Thursday, in fact, was a "fateful" day, as the Salud procession, organized by the Cofradía de la Pasión, was also suspended in the morning and replaced by a prayer service inside the San Vicente church. The Brotherhood noted that the temple was "full" on this occasion as well.
The last event affected by the bad weather was the Nazareno procession on Holy Monday, one of the most cherished events of Bilbao's Holy Week. The procession, led by Bishop Joseba Segura, proceeded under persistent rain, causing the other Bilbao cofradías to abandon it, "completely soaked," according to the Brotherhood, until only the Cofradía del Nazareno, responsible for the procession, remained. "Unfortunately, this detracted from the listening of Juanjo Navas's saetas in Euskera," the statement noted.
Although no visitor figures were provided, the Bilbao cofradías also highlighted in their assessment the "notable increasing number of people" who came to view the exhibition of floats on La Cruz street in the Old Town. They also thanked 15 hospitality establishments for their participation in the IX edition of the 'pintxo Nazareno route'.
For all these reasons, the Brotherhood of Cofradías reiterates its request to declare Bilbao's Holy Week intangible cultural heritage. "The large public attendance recorded and the extensive attention given by various media outlets is an incentive to continue working towards this declaration despite the previous Basque Government's refusal," the statement indicates. Holy Week has been celebrated in the Vizcayan capital for almost five centuries and is composed of nine cofradías. In total, 14 processions and a Via Crucis are organized, featuring 36 floats with origins dating between the 17th and 21st centuries.

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