by Pepe Álvarez-Rogel
Manolas are a vital part of the Holy Week processions in Spain, embodying tradition and devotion. These women are dressed in traditional black attire, consisting of a mantilla (a delicate lace veil), a ruffled lace dress, and black high-heeled shoes. The mantilla is often secured with a peineta, a decorative comb. Typically, manolas carry a fan, a small purse, a rosary, and sometimes a candle or a small traditional lantern. Their long skirts, made of silk or velvet, cover at least the knee, while their legs are adorned with thin, black stockings—never sheer. Dressed in black as a sign of mourning for the death of Christ, manolas represent the enduring traditions of Spain and the significant role of women in both religious and cultural life. Their presence highlights their active participation in the processions and the solemnity of the occasion.
The manolas often walk alongside the pasos (elaborate floats carrying sculptures depicting scenes from the Gospels), which are carried through the streets by nazarenos. This creates a deeply emotional atmosphere, enhancing the solemnity of the procession.
The manolas as we know them today emerged in the 19th century when the Holy Week processions began to take on a more formal structure. Their origins trace back to the Maids of the Virgin, women who were responsible for preparing the floats for the processions. In the past, women were not permitted to carry the pasos, so their role was relegated to that of the manolas, accompanying the floats and mourning the passion and death of Jesus.
Though manolas participate throughout the entire Holy Week, their presence is especially significant during the nighttime processions. The most notable of these is on Holy Thursday night, which commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples—the moment when He instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist—and the beginning of His passion and death. This makes it one of the most solemn and profound moments of Holy Week. During this procession, commonly known as the Procesión del Silencio (Procession of Silence), nazarenos and manolas observe a sacred vow of silence, which is only broken by the hymn-singing choirs as the Christ figure passes by.
In the Procession of Silence, the streets are largely darkened, and the flickering candles carried by the nazarenos and manolas create captivating images and evocative shadows. The images I am sharing with you today were captured during the Procession of Silence in Murcia, Spain, in 2024. In this procession, the revered image of the Christ of the Refuge is solemnly carried through the streets of Murcia on Holy Thursday night, a tradition faithfully upheld since 1943.
On a personal note, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all these women for allowing me to photograph them year after year, granting me a glimpse into the intimacy and contemplation with which they experience the procession.
