Spanish Vocabulary for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

Easter is the most widely and ardently celebrated holiday in most of the Spanish-speaking world—even bigger than Christmas—and Lent is observed nearly everywhere. The week before Easter, known as Santa Semana, is a vacation week in Spain and most of Latin America; in some areas, the vacation period extends to the following week. Due to their strong Roman Catholic heritage, most countries celebrate Holy Week by emphasizing the events leading up to the death of Jesus (Jesà ºs or Jesucristo), often with large processions, with Easter set aside for family gatherings and/or carnival-like celebrations. Easter and Other Words and Phrases As you learn about Easter in Spanish—or, if youre fortunate, travel to where its celebrated—these are some words and phrases youll want to know. Spanish Phrase Meaning in English el carnival Carnival, a celebration that takes place in the days immediately preceding Lent. Carnivals in Latin America and Spain are usually organized locally and last several days. la cofradà ­a a brotherhood associated with a Catholic parish. In many communities, such brotherhoods have organized Holy Week observances for centuries. la Crucifixià ³n the Crucifixion la Cuaresma Lent. The word is related to cuarenta, thenumber40, for the 40 days of fasting and prayer (Sundays not included) that take place during the period. It is often observed through various kinds of self-denial. el Domingo de Pascua EasterSunday. Other names for the day include "Domingo de Gloria," "Domingo de Pascua," "Domingo de Resurreccià ³n," and "Pascua Florida." el Domingo de Ramos Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem five days before his death. (A "ramo" in this context is a tree branch or a bunch of palm fronds.) la Fiesta de Judas a ceremony in parts of Latin America, usually held the day before Easter, in which an effigy of Judas, who betrayed Jesus, is hung, burned, or otherwise mistreated la Fiesta del Cuasimodo a celebration held in Chile the Sunday after Easter los huevos de Pascua Easter eggs. In some areas, painted or chocolate eggs are part of the Easter celebration. They are not associated with the Easter bunny in Spanish-speaking countries. el Jueves Santo Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Last Supper. el Lunes de Pascua Easter Monday, the day after Easter. It is a legal holiday in several Spanish-speaking countries. el Martes de Carnaval Mardi Gras, the last day before Lent el Mià ©rcoles de Ceniza Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The main Ash Wednesday ritual involves having ashes imposed on your forehead in the shape of a cross during Mass. el mona de Pascua a type of Easter pastry eaten primarily in the Mediterranean areas of Spain la Pascua de Resurreccià ³n Easter. Usually, "Pascua"stands by itself as the word used most often to refer to Easter. Coming from the Hebrew "Pessach," the word for Passover, "pascua" can refer to almost any holy day, usually in phrases such as "Pascua judà ­a" (Passover) and "Pascua de la Natividad" (Christmas). el paso an elaborate float that is carried in Holy Week processions in some areas. These floats typically carry representations of the Crucifixion or other events in the Holy Week story. la Resurreccià ³n the Resurrection la rosca de Pascua a ring-shaped cake that is part of the Easter celebration in some areas, especially Argentina el Sà ¡bado de Gloria Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. It is also called "Sà ¡bado Santo." la Santa Cenat the Last Supper. It is also known as "la Última Cena." la Santa Semana Holy Week, the eight days that begin with Palm Sunday and end with Easter Other Phrases El và ­a crucis: This phrase from Latin, sometimes spelled as viacrucis, refers to any of the 14 Stations of the Cross (Estaciones de la Cruz) representing the stages of Jesus walk (sometimes called la Và ­a Dolorosa) to Calvary, where he was crucified. It is common for that walk to be reenacted on Good Friday. (Note that và ­a crucis is masculine even though và ­a by itself is feminine.) El Viernes de Dolores: Friday of Sorrows, also known as Viernes de Pasià ³n. The day to recognize the suffering of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is observed one week before Good Friday. In some areas, this day is recognized as the start of Holy Week. Pasià ³n here refers to suffering just as the English term, passion, does in a liturgical context.