Holy Week is one of the most significant Christian celebrations, commemorating the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. While it is celebrated and observed all over the world, each country and region expresses it in its own unique way, incorporating its own traditions that reflect its history, culture, and religious fervour.
Although for many it is completely unknown, here Holy Week is celebrated with deep tradition and roots.
Join us to discover how we celebrate it on the White Isle!
The traditions and customs that define us
As in the rest of Spain, our brotherhoods are the heart of Holy Week, keeping alive a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. These brotherhoods not only organize the processions, but are also responsible for carrying the images and preparing the liturgical services with great devotion.
Did you know that in Ibiza Town alone, there are seven active brotherhoods? Each with its own history, identity, and symbols, filling the streets with fervour, emotion, and a deep sense of community during these days.
Do you know the Cases Santes? Our churches take on a special role during Holy Week thanks to the tradition of the "Cases Santes". During these dates, we decorate our temples with bouquets of flowers, bread, and glasses of wine, creating a solemn atmosphere full of symbolism. Visiting the churches during Holy Week is a unique experience not to be missed!
The combination of these traditions with the architectural uniqueness of Ibiza's churches makes Holy Week a cultural and spiritual spectacle worth discovering.
Music, an important part of our culture
Among the most special and unknown traditions of this time of year are the Easter Caramelles. This gem of the Ibiza songbook, recognized as a Site of Cultural Interest, has been part of our musical identity for centuries. Although they were once sung only at Christmas, they now fill churches again during Holy Week, imbuing the atmosphere with a solemn and emotional atmosphere.
What do these ancient songs sound like? Performed by an "esquadra de caramellers", the "Caramelles" recount the death and resurrection of Christ to the rhythm of the flute, drum, castanets, and the traditional "espasí."
A unique musical legacy that will transport you to the purest essence of Ibiza's culture!
Holy Week Processions in Ibiza
Holy Week processions fill every corner of the island with fervour and tradition. However, if there are two places where Holy Week is celebrated with particular intensity, they are Eivissa and Santa Eulària.
In Ibiza Town, the celebration begins on Friday of Sorrows, followed by Palm Sunday, with the blessing of the palms and a procession that departs from the Church of Santo Domingo to the Cathedral. Throughout the week, the city's seven brotherhoods organize various processions, the most notable of which is the impressive Procession of the Holy Burial on Good Friday. Imagine the excitement of watching the floats make their way through the historic streets of Dalt Vila, a unique setting declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
In Santa Eulària, the celebrations also don't go unnoticed. Its Holy Thursday and Good Friday processions are followed with great devotion, and the Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday morning is an event that moves those who witness it.
But Holy Week in Ibiza also holds charming little gems. In Sant Miquel de Balansat, for example, a very family-friendly procession is held: the Passos de Setmana Santa, whose route passes by one of the only four fortified churches on the island. A place of historical and architectural value that you can't miss!
Holy Week Gastronomy in Ibiza
Of course, our gastronomy also has "something to say" during this time and delights us with some dishes that you can only try during these days, when tradition dictates abstaining from meat:
With humble recipes, full of identity and flavour, the star of these dates is cuinat, a stew made with lamb's lettuce (a typical Ibiza vegetable) and legumes, which is cooked in large quantities to share with the family. A convivial dish that unites generations around the table!
Another essential part of Holy Week is desserts; no home is without buñuelos, orelletes, and the delicious flaó, a mint-scented cheesecake that wins over everyone who tries it.
Would you like to try these unique flavours? Find these and other traditional recipes on our website.
Bon appétit!
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We hope you're inspired to enjoy Easter in Ibiza and discover what's so special about it.
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