Holy week

Also known as Holy week this fiesta takes place over the Easter period and is the most ancient and religious of all celebrations which take place in Oliva. Palm Sunday sees the town filled with scented palm leaves and all the bakers sell special Easter cakes.

On Good Friday before the sun comes up there is a procession up to the stations of the cross which is of great religious importance to all involved. That night there is a Church service which includes a religious play called the Desenclavamiento or removal of the nails.

On the Sunday crowds gather on the Paseo to watch the Easter procession which is much more light hearted and informal. There are lots of bands playing and sweets are thrown out to all the children.

Maundy Thursday

19:30h: At Rebollet Convent, high mass for Nazareno brotherhood.
22:30h: The procession "Despedida del Silencio" starts from both churches, Santa Maria and San Francisco.
23:00h: Holy Hour at all three parishes.

Good Friday

06:30h: Departure from Santa María church and from Rebollet convent church to the Via Crucis and Mountain Sermon. 08:00h: At Santa María church holy hour.
17:00h: At San Roque and San Francisco churches, liturgical celebration of Christ's death.
17:30h: At  Santa María parish church, liturgical celebration of the Christ’s death.
18:30h: At Santa María parish the ceremony of Christs releasing from the cross which is a poem with music written by José Climent and Salvador Soler Soler.
20:00h: Procession depicting Christ’s Burial starting from  Santa María Church through the streets of the old town.

Holy Saturday

23:00h: At the three parishes, Easter Vigil.
24:00h: At the three parishes, Glory Mass.

Easter Sunday

08:30h: At the three churches, high mass with the assistance of the brotherhoods, patronesses, maids of honour and public in general. At the end of the religious service, from each parish, a parade starts with the priest and brotherhoods to the Paseo in the centre of Oliva town.

The Brotherhoods.

The brotherhood’s from each Parish are distinguished by their different coloured robes and pointed head coverings. Each represents a different element of Christ’s crucifixion and they walk through the streets in the week coming up to Easter weekend carrying aloft a large effigy depicting their part of the story. Put together in one procession, they develop the whole story of the Passion before your eyes, in a sequence of frames.