In pictures: Spain gears up for colorful Holy Week street processions

Spain is preparing for one of its most revered holiday periods of the year: Holy Week.

Holy week means thousands of colorful and noisy religious street processions, drawing crowds to the streets to watch.

Mari Carmen Pérez brushes the palms to be used during Palm Sunday processions in a shop in Elche, eastern Spain — Mari Carmen Pérez brushes the palms of her hands during Palm Sunday processions in a shop in Elche, eastern Spain (Bernat Armangue/AP)

The centerpieces of the processions are the gigantic, richly decorated floats carrying sculptures of Jesus or the Virgin Mary and often weighing up to a ton or more.

Angela Pastor decorates a palm tree — Ángela Pastor decorates a palm tree (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Employees work at the Bellido candle factory in Andújar, southern Spain — Employees work at the Bellido candle factory in Andujar, southern Spain (Bernat Armangue/AP)

The ceremonies see brotherhoods of “Nazarenos” with tall conical hats, monastic robes and hoods carrying or escorting the magnificent carriages through ancient streets of cities and towns nationwide.

While the processions take place over just a few days, the preparations are a year-round affair, involving a wide range of small, sometimes family-owned businesses.

Members of the brotherhood 'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena' prepare a float to carry a religious image during Holy Week processions inside a church in Madrid — Brothers of the brotherhood ‘Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena’ prepare a float to carry a religious image during Holy Week processions inside a church in Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP)

The artisans are responsible for producing all the adornments, from conical hats and huge candles to bouquets of palm leaves.

Porters of 'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena' brotherhood practice in the center of Madrid — Porters of the brotherhood ‘Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena’ practice in the center of Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP)

There are also workshops responsible for the conservation of religious sculptures, their dresses and ornamental cloths.

“It’s a year’s worth of preparation,” says Paqui Serrano, an artisan who makes palm-leaf bouquets in Elche, southeast Spain, the heart of Spain’s palm tree agriculture.

Porters of the brotherhood 'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena' meet before practicing in the center of Madrid — Porters of the brotherhood ‘Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena’ meet before practicing in the center of Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Fernando Chicharro Méndez, head of the float team of the Brotherhood of Jesus of the Great Power and the Macarena of Madrid, has been driving floats for 25 years.

A goalkeeper from the brotherhood 'Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena' adjusts his 'sack' before practicing — A goalkeeper from the brotherhood ‘Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y la Esperanza Macarena’ adjusts his ‘sack’ before practicing (Bernat Armangue/AP)

He says that the task of carrying the floats has changed little in the 83 years of the brotherhood’s existence.

Chicharro says that he and his son, another coachbuilder and the family are constantly busy with the processions and their preparations.

José Arenas adjusts a hood used by penitents during Holy Week processions at the Capirotes Arenas shop in Córdoba, southern Spain — José Arenas adjusts a hood worn by penitents during Holy Week processions at the Capirotes Arenas store in Córdoba, southern Spain (Bernat Armangue/AP)

“We live it daily,” he said. “In my family, everyone is a member of the brotherhood and lives it with a lot of faith.”

Mr. Chicharro’s float is carried by 35 bearers, with brothers waiting to relieve them along the procession route.

Photo gallery of the preparations for Holy Week in Spain — A girl tries on a hood, to be used in Holy Week processions, in Capirotes Arenas (Bernat Armangue/AP)

His practice sessions frequently arouse the interest of tourists and Spaniards alike as they roam the streets in the weeks leading up to Semana Santa.

Easter this year begins with Palm Sunday on April 2.