Easter comes early, this year. And Mallorca is getting ready for the holy week. The first of the traditional processions of the Semana Santa in Palma has been taking place today. A solemn parade made its way through the narrow streets to the slow rhythm of a marching band. Dressed in long robes and tall pointed hats the brotherhoods walked their banner to the Basílica de Sant Francesc.

During the holy week the sound of haunting drums and trumpets fill the old town, often until long after midnight. The streets after sunset lined with people, intrigued by the silent figures with the capirotes. Many of them barefoot on the cold cobblestone, some even wearing iron chains around their ankles.

Everybody applauds when the costaleros, the hidden carriers, lift the heavy pasos. Richly decorated altar stages depicting scenes from the Passion. And even the youngest walk for hours, proud to wipe off the wax from the long candles to keep them burning. The faces serious, they give away small candies and prayer cards to the bystanders.

From Palm Sunday on, ten more processions will take place in Palma alone. On Monday night there will be four of them in different parts of the casco antiguo. The longest procession, however, is the one on Holy Thursday when all the confrarias participate. Semana Santa in Palma culminates in the Good Friday parade.

More about this year’s Easter processions in Palma and their routes right here.