Tarnation wrote:

So what about that Order which is wearing what could almost pass for KKK uniforms?

It is really shocking for an American to view.
But, they are called "penitents", and there is no link.

I'm not sure what the significance of hiding their identities is,

As Wikipedia says,,,,
A common feature in Spain is the almost general usage of the nazareno or penitential robe for some of the participants in the processions. This garment consists in a tunic, a hood with conical tip (capirote) used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The exact colors and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. These nazarenos carry processional candles or rough-hewn wooden crosses, may walk the city streets barefoot, and, in some places may carry shackles and chains on their feet as penance. In some areas, sections of the participants wear dress freely inspired by the uniforms of the Roman Legion.

My childhood Holy Week memories aren't nearly so rich, because I grew up in a Methodist church without special music and without much liturgy.

There was a wealthy Doctor's wife in the congregation who had some huge potted palms in her house.  She lent them to the church for Palm Sunday and Easter, so on Palm Sunday we sat and looked at Mrs. Brown's potted palms.  Oftentimes the choir had a Cantata on Palm Sunday, so we sat and listened to the Cantata while we looked at Mrs. Brown's potted palms.

The only service during the week was the Maundy Thursday Communion service....one of four times that Communion was available each year.  The other times were the first Sundays of January and July and the first Sunday in October.   It started late:  7:30, if I recall correctly, and as a school ager I was usually very sleepy by the end of the service, especially if we'd had school that day.

Back then the York City Schools had a nice Easter break.  Good Friday and the Monday after Easter were guarenteed holidays, irrespective of the winter.  Maundy Thursday and the Tuesday after Easter were snow make-up days.  Some years we had off, others we didn't.

The Methodist pastor didn't like doing a Sunrise Service so he had the youth take charge.  My folks didn't much care for that so we never went.

Now I am Orthodox, and Holy Week requires a bit of explaining most years, including this year, becaues we follow the Julian calendar for Easter.   Meaning that this year our Holy Week begins* when the rest of Christendom is celebrating Easter.   Next year we will be five weeks off.  But the year after that we will be togeter.

*Actually, our Holy Week really begins on the Friday evening before Palm Sunday with the Lazarus Canon, and continues through the day after Pascha (Easter) which we call "Bright Monday".  There is at least one--some times two, and one day (Good Friday) three--services each day.   Altogether 16 services in 11 days.

Last edited by Tarnation (3/31/2015 8:15 pm)

Does anyone remember a syndicated Radio Drama program that aired during Holy Week on a number of radio stations? I think it was called "The Greatest Week In History". It was a faux news program that attempted to make you feel like you were listening to actual news broadcasts and radio news reporters from the Jerusalem Broadcasting Corporation reporting on the events surrounding Jesus and the Jerusalem area from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Each day during Holy Week different newscasts were aired dealing with the events that happened on that particular day of Holy Week. The show only lasted about 5 - 10 minutes but was quite interesting. I do not know if it is still aired or not, but I don't ever hear it anymore. 

All of the transcripts of "The Greatest Week in History" can be found from this index page:

http://www.thirdway.com/rad/?Page=4215|Intro

Reading some of the transcripts, I know that I had heard snippets of them live when they first aired fifty years ago.

Last edited by Tarnation (4/01/2015 9:07 pm)