Away in Spain: Semana Santa in Jerez

So,
I'm sorry it has been almost been a month since I've posted but between exams, lack of internet, and Semana Santa, I've been really busy.

Starting from a few weeks ago, I finally finished my exams for the trimester. I won't go into my grades like I did last trimester but in short, I failed the same three classes as last time and my math grade improved by one whole point! Two points from passing! I've come to the conclusion that I'm just not going to pass math this year. Thankfully, I only need three years of math to graduate so as long as I study this summer, I should be fine for next year. As for the rest of my grades, the classes that I did pass were mostly the same as last trimester which while I was hoping to improve, at this point, I've sort of given up caring. As long as I pass, to me, that's all that really matters.

I'm currently on break for Semana Santa. I wanted to post earlier with more information about the holiday but, no matter how many people I asked, everyone kept telling me it was too hard to explain and that I just had to wait to see it for myself. Well, from what I've seen so far, Semana Santa has definitely lived up to its reputation. Basically, each day, hundreds of people gather to the central to see different “paso's” which are scenes depicting different events that Jesus went through in the time between his arrest and his death. There are also many "paso's" showing the Virgin Mary grieving over what has happened to her son. These scenes are sculptures carried all throughout the central as you'll see in the pictures below. In front of the sculptures are people wearing hooded costumes that I think are worn to grieve the death of Jesus, (don't quote me on that). I do know that they have absolutely nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan except for the fact that the Ku Klux Klan may have gotten their costume inspiration from seeing the mourners in Semana Santa. At the end of each “paso” there is a huge marching band which plays intense, dramatic music. I've already heard all the music though considering they've been practicing right outside my house for months...... Behind the band, there is usually a huge group of people following the procession and chanting some sort of prayers. In the windows, there are people who sing traditional religious songs to the sculpture. I've only seen this once but, it was definitely nothing like any singing I've ever heard. It basically just sounded like a bunch of screaming but, I mean, everyone clapped at the end so I guess the screamings normal. Anyways, after I saw the first paso, I made it my mission to experience this holiday to the fullest. The majority of my friends have taken this week to do some traveling, but not me. I've gone out almost every day this week and so far, I've followed one of the processions for over two hours, participated in one of the religious chant things (even though I had no idea what it meant) and, was able to go inside the main cathedral of Jerez and watch as each paso “greeted God”. I was very lucky to be able to do this because only about 20 people out of thousands were able to get in. These next few days are I guess the most important days of Semana Santa and everyone's expected to get really dressed up. Unfortunately, all of my clothes are in the wash so, I don't know exactly how I'm going to do that. Oh well.

In other news, I've been taking my flamenco classes for almost a month now and I've already learned the first four parts! My teacher told me I was a natural which I just had to laugh at considering my previous dance experiences.... I apparently will be all set for Feria which is exciting. Now all I have to do is buy my dress which I still have yet to do..

Anyways,

It's 4:00 here which means I have to go start getting ready for this afternoon's processions.
Adiosss