https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Want to do something over the Easter holidays but keen to avoid all the religious fervour? The Local gives you a rundown of the best alternative Easter travel plans. https://www.thelocal.es/20190403/ten-offbeat-spanish-easter-destinations Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:40:02 +0200 ten-offbeat-spanish-easter-destinations Storm Nelson has soaked parts of Spain during its famous Semana Santa celebrations, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, waves, and cancelling processions across the country. https://www.thelocal.es/20240328/storm-nelson-dampens-spains-semana-santa-celebrations Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:18:24 +0100 storm-nelson-dampens-spains-semana-santa-celebrations Many worshippers were left in tears Monday as the heavens opened with untimely bouts of rain that prompted the cancellation of many Holy Week parades. https://www.thelocal.es/20240326/rain-in-spain-mars-holy-week-parades Tue, 26 Mar 2024 09:18:24 +0100 rain-in-spain-mars-holy-week-parades While religious orders started allowing women to carry floats in Spain's famous Semana Santa processions 30 years ago, female "costaleros" - as float bearers are known - remain a minority who still face resistance. https://www.thelocal.es/20220412/were-strong-enough-women-bear-weight-of-easter-ritual-in-changing-spain Tue, 12 Apr 2022 15:44:15 +0200 were-strong-enough-women-bear-weight-of-easter-ritual-in-changing-spain With Easter processions cancelled for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, Spain's colourful Holy Week marches made their eagerly awaited return to the streets on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.es/20220411/as-covid-restrictions-end-spains-easter-traditions-are-resurrected Mon, 11 Apr 2022 11:26:43 +0200 as-covid-restrictions-end-spains-easter-traditions-are-resurrected Working with rich fabrics, fine lace and flowers, gay stylists have long played a key role in dressing the Virgin Mary figures carried through the streets of southern Spain during Holy Week. But their participation comes at a price: silence about their sexual orientation. https://www.thelocal.es/20220408/how-gay-stylists-play-a-key-role-during-holy-week-in-southern-spain Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:02:40 +0200 how-gay-stylists-play-a-key-role-during-holy-week-in-southern-spain This scrumptious calorific treat is traditionally eaten in Spain over Easter, and it's easy enough to make at home. https://www.thelocal.es/20200408/recipe-how-to-make-spains-easter-dish-torrijas Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:06:42 +0200 recipe-how-to-make-spains-easter-dish-torrijas Family photos can be a bit awkward. Especially when they involve three generations of royals and everyone involved is used to being the centre of attention. https://www.thelocal.es/20180404/right-royal-bust-up-video-shows-queen-letizia-clashing-with-mother-in-law Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:55:59 +0200 right-royal-bust-up-video-shows-queen-letizia-clashing-with-mother-in-law Catch up with these amazing images of how Semana Santa was celebrated in different places across Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20180403/in-pics-this-is-how-easter-was-celebrated-across-spain Tue, 03 Apr 2018 12:03:01 +0200 in-pics-this-is-how-easter-was-celebrated-across-spain Spaniards will tell you that ‘it always rains in Semana Santa” and this year they will most probably be right as downpours look certain across much of Spain next week. https://www.thelocal.es/20180322/easter-weather-spain-set-for-rain-on-the-parades Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:15:50 +0100 easter-weather-spain-set-for-rain-on-the-parades A man in Valencia has been banned from Easter parades for his bare-shouldered Jesus costume, but some suspect it's actually because he's openly gay. https://www.thelocal.es/20160328/gay-actor-banned-from-playing-jesus-for-showing-too-much-skin Mon, 28 Mar 2016 13:14:40 +0200 gay-actor-banned-from-playing-jesus-for-showing-too-much-skin Pardoning prisoners, dressing up as skeletons, "killing Jews" and just what are those white pointy hats about? We reveal all... https://www.thelocal.es/20160323/seven-surprising-facts-about-holy-week-in-spain Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:43:21 +0100 seven-surprising-facts-about-holy-week-in-spain Spain's national weather agency has confirmed that much of the country can expect a wet and stormy Easter week. Make sure you have an umbrella handy. https://www.thelocal.es/20160322/rain-in-spain-dampens-easter-parades Tue, 22 Mar 2016 09:34:22 +0100 rain-in-spain-dampens-easter-parades Workers at Spain’s national rail network have been called out on strike next Wednesday in industrial action that is promising to cause maximum disruption for Easter travellers. https://www.thelocal.es/20160315/spain-train-strike-over-easter-brings-threat-of-travel-chaos Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:14:42 +0100 spain-train-strike-over-easter-brings-threat-of-travel-chaos From the elaborate costumes to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, The Local takes a look at Spain's incredible Semana Santa processions. https://www.thelocal.es/20150401/holy-week-marches-on-in-spain Wed, 01 Apr 2015 12:45:57 +0200 holy-week-marches-on-in-spain Spring has definitely sprung, as much of Spain will be bathed in warm weather during Easter week, the country’s meteorological agency has predicted. https://www.thelocal.es/20150327/spain-set-to-welcome-sunny-semana-santa Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:10:40 +0100 spain-set-to-welcome-sunny-semana-santa Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas returned to his roots this week to take part in Semana Santa in his native Málaga. https://www.thelocal.es/20150331/antonio-banderas-stars-in-malaga-holy-week Tue, 31 Mar 2015 11:54:07 +0200 antonio-banderas-stars-in-malaga-holy-week Alicante has issued fashion guidelines for women walking in its Holy Week parade, imposing a ban on short skirts, cleavages and "tight-fitting" clothes. https://www.thelocal.es/20150311/lipstick-miniskirts-banned-at-easter-parades Wed, 11 Mar 2015 11:40:24 +0100 lipstick-miniskirts-banned-at-easter-parades The head of Spain's new Podemos party in Seville landed herself in hot water on Monday after she appeared to suggest the city's iconic Semana Santa festival could become a thing of the past. https://www.thelocal.es/20150113/podemos-to-ban-semana-santa-rumour-goes-viral Tue, 13 Jan 2015 11:53:00 +0100 podemos-to-ban-semana-santa-rumour-goes-viral As Spain's Holy Week draws to a close, The Local showcases some of the best images from a week of drama, pageantry and mystery. https://www.thelocal.es/20140421/in-pictures-spains-holy-week-2014 Mon, 21 Apr 2014 15:15:00 +0200 in-pictures-spains-holy-week-2014