From Holy Week to Easter holidays: this is how the different royals celebrate

Despite existing differences in religious tradition, Holy Week is a celebration celebrated with great passion in both Spain and the United Kingdom† While in our country the traditions are characterized by the catholic passion† the British persist strong protestant tradition† The popular parades that are so characteristic of Spain are being replaced in the United Kingdom by massive crowds. Some misses in which the British celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but do not venerate virgins or saints, something that does happen in our country. This is undoubtedly an important date in the calendars of both countries. A date when the members of their royal houses usually move to their more rural homes to rest with their families†

In SpainEaster is celebrated with great emotion. People actively participate in the various acts and traditions that are organized on these dates. Day and night, the streets become spaces where the music of the drums mixes with the color of the flowers and the art of the religious sculptures; creating a moving image. A time when processions take center stage, especially in Andalusia; and where the festivities are much more religious than in the UK. The streets are packed with people to celebrate the anniversary of the coming of Jesus Christ and the torrijas become the star dish of these dates.

The Easter plans of the Spanish royal family have always been a mystery† The official schedule of the Kings is usually cleared around these dates so that they can spend time on their own and travel with their family and friends. Some trips that, on many occasions, had the snow as the protagonist. And it’s that the royal family likes to get lost in it destinations such as Astún or Courchevel to enjoy skiing† A destination where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also taken refuge on several occasions. A journey that the kings always repeated was their visit to Mallorca† For 14 years in a row, the royal family traveled to the island on these dates to celebrate the traditional Easter Mass. A ceremony that took place every year during Easter Sunday in the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca. An event the royal family has avoided since the infamous and controversial scuffle between Letizia and Sofia in 2018.

Easter in the UK is always celebrated with a traditional royal mass at the chapel of St. George, at Windsor Castle. A ceremony where the British commemorate the resurrection of Jesus and light their Easter candles. Some dates on which it has become customary to paint and decorate eggs to give as gifts during Resurrection Sunday and Easter Monday. Easter in the UK officially start with the White Thursdaywhat we know as Maundy Thursday. Maundy It is a word that comes from Old English and refers to the Last Supper, the moment when Jesus Christ washed the feet of his apostles. For this reason, the King or Queen of England in the past washed the feet of a series of people who were chosen for having rendered an outstanding service to the community. A tradition that has reinvented itself over the years to lead to what is known as the Queen’s Purse. Elizabeth II is currently delivering a bag of coins specially selected for the occasion to a group of Britons selected for their high level of community involvement. A number of coins that must be equal to the years of the current monarch.

The most important and most celebrated day of Easter in the UK is the Easter Sunday, what we know in Spain as Resurrection Sunday. According to British tradition it is very typical to have boiled eggs for breakfast† a simple breakfast with great symbolism: the eggs represent the rebirth or resurrection of Jesus Christ. In addition, it is said that in the Middle Ages it was forbidden to eat eggs during the forty days of Lent, so on Easter day they were a delicacy. Although it has no religious significance in itself, the celebration of Holy Monday is very popular in the UK. A day when the whole country celebrates the world famous Roll Egg Races† It consists of rolling (with the egg in hand) down a hill with a steep slope and uneven terrain, with the aim of arriving first without breaking the egg. Despite the sheer number of festivals and traditions, the only public holidays in the UK are Good Friday and Easter Monday. during the holidays different masses are organized and the parishes are decorated with showy flowers.

And that’s it the egg gets a lot of symbolism on these dates as noted in the UK. The British maintain the tradition of giving each other chocolate eggs among family and friends. They are known as Easter eggs. Children are told that if they are good, the Easter Bunny will bring them lots of eggs. Another global tradition is that of painting easter eggs† A decoration that allows families to enjoy the egg hunt† a game that consists of hiding your egg in the different corners of the house or garden, trying to find the rest without yours being discovered.

During the Easter holidays, the most important European royal families usually close their official agendas for holidays. The difference royal family try to move on these dates until regions with strong religious traditionsalthough they also choose heavenly places as a destination for your outings. to the kings Philip and Mathilde of Belgium they like to enjoy this Easter holiday as a family. Drawing on the tradition of the Belgian monarchy, the couple raised their four children according to the precepts of Christianity; and on these dates the monarchs usually travel to destinations with a strong religious tradition. In 2017, the royal family was surprised to travel to our country for the first time, to spend a few days on the Camino de Santiago. A destination they would repeat three years in a row.

If the Swedish tradition remains intact, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden they are going to St. Tropez for another year to enjoy their Easter holidays there. The monarchs usually travel to Saint Maxine’s villa, the house the monarch inherited from his uncle Bertie. The kings enjoy in these dates the beautiful scenery of the French Riviera, the gastronomy of the place and the good times with family and friends. For its part, the Danish Royal Family It is usually quite true to its traditions in festivities such as Holy Week. Queen Margrethe II has the habit of gathering the whole family at Marselisborg Palace to enjoy the Easter festivities together. A journey where the family fulfills its traditional visit to Aarhus Cathedral where the religious ceremony of Easter takes place every year. In Holland the only public holidays are Friday and Monday. Kings Guillermo and Máxima usually have no official obligations on these dates and use their days off to go on holiday with the family.