Holy Week 2025 in Barcelona
(LAST UPDATED ON 11/04/2025)
Holy Week 2025 is from 13 to 20 April This means that all Christians will be celebrating Holy Week at the same time.
Holy Week is one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar. It is the commemoration of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, and takes place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday – Easter Day. Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Maundy Thursday marks the day of the Last Supper, Good Friday is a reminder of his crucifixion and death, Easter Saturday is the day of mourning and waiting, and finally Easter Sunday celebrated the resurrection. Through a rich and extensive set of festive practices – processions, theatrical performances and other liturgical and ritual activities – the Christian community remembers and re-enacts Christ’s final moments on earth, known as the passion, death and resurrection.
The dates for Holy Week are determined by the lunar calendar (as indicated in the Bible): the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere is Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday; and the previous Sunday is Palm Sunday. The Western and Eastern churches use different calendars to determine when Easter Day falls – the Gregorian calendar in the West and the Julian calendar in the East. This means that the dates for celebrating Holy Week can vary. This year, the Gregorian calendar and Julian calendar coincide and Holy Week begins on 13 April with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday, 20 April.
For Catholics, Holy Week is a time of prayer, of repentance for one’s sins, and of remembering the suffering of Jesus, who is the son of God and who died on the cross. It is also a time to celebrate his resurrection, which represents eternal life by God’s side for all Christians.
Blessing of the palm branches, processions, and the Way of the Cross:
The blessing of the palm branches takes place on Palm Sunday and marks the arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem for the celebration of the Jewish Passover. According to the Bible, Christ rode in on a donkey and was welcomed with joy by the inhabitants of the city, who praised him by raising palm, laurel and olive branches.
Holy Week processions are devotional celebrations that commemorate different episodes during the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and his resurrection. They are religious celebrations where people – primarily members of confraternities and brotherhoods – carry one or several sacred images through the streets of the city, following an established route. These processions were popular celebrations, and today they have become a tradition in the city.
The Way of the Cross is a meditative devotional practice that evokes the passion of Christ before the fourteen stations, which represent episodes along the way to the cross, ending with those of his crucifixion and burial.
Catholic Holy Week celebrations in Barcelona:
In Barcelona, a number of events are held on the streets. In addition to the Palm Sunday blessings organised by the churches, various processions and Ways of the Cross are held. These include the Burreta, the processions of Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena, organised by the Pontificia y Real Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena; the procession of the Santíssim Crist de la Bona Mort, organised by the congregation of the same name; the Viacrucis de la Sang, organised by the Reial i Il·lustre Arxiconfraria de la Puríssima Sang de Nostre Senyor Jesucrist; the procession of the Virgen de las Angustias y el Santísimo Cristo de la Misericordia, organised by the Hermandad y Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias de Barcelona, or the Way of the Cross in the Cathedral, to name but a few.
The Consell General de Germandats i Confraries de l’Arxidiòcesi de Barcelona comprises around 80 brotherhoods and confraternities.
Barcelona’s Catholic community:
Christians were first recorded in Barcelona in the 3rd century, and the city became an episcopal see in the 4th century. Various documents record the lives of Saint Cucuphas, Saint Pacian and Santa Eulalia, who was to become the city’s patron saint. Today, the city of Barcelona is part of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, the governing body where the archbishop, auxiliary bishops and the curia (the delegations responsible for the different areas) are based.
During Holy Week in Barcelona, as in many other cities, events, processions and celebrations take place in a context of reflection, community and spirituality. This year the city of Barcelona will be the setting for a number of Catholic Holy Week events, some of which are:
CIUTAT VELLA:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- At 11.00 am outside the Cathedral. Organised by: Barcelona Cathedral.
- At 11.45 am in Plaça del Pedró. Organised by: Mare de Déu del Carme Parish Church.
- At 11.00 am in Plaça de la Barceloneta Organised by: Sant Miquel del Port Parish Church.
- At 9.15 am and 5.15 pm, in Plaça de Sant Agustí. Organised by: Immaculada Concepció i Sant Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church.
- At 10.45 am in Plaça del Pi and Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol. Organised by: Santa Maria del Pi Parish Church.
- At 10.00 am in the Jardins de Sant Pau (opposite the church doors). Organised by: Sant Pau del Camp Parish Church.
- Pas de la Burreta (The Donkey’s Procession): 13 April (Palm Sunday) from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. Starting in Plaça de Sant Agustí, continuing along Carrer de l’Hospital, La Rambla, Carrer de Santa Anna, Avinguda del Portal de l’Àngel, Carrer de Cucurulla, Carrer de la Portaferrissa, La Rambla, Carrer de l’Hospital and ending in Plaça de Sant Agustí. Organised by: Pontificia y Real Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos de Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena de Barcelona.
- Processó de la Bona Mort (Procession of the Good Death): 13 April (palm Sunday), from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Starting on Carrer de Santa Anna, continuing along Avinguda del Portal de l’Àngel, Pla de la Seu, Carrer del Bisbe, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer Avinyó, Carrer Ample and ending at the Basilica of La Mare de Déu de la Mercè. Organised by: Congregació del Santíssim Crist de la Bona Mort (Santa Anna Parish Church).
- Solemníssim Viacrucis de la Sang (Solemn Station of the Cross): 17 April (Maundy Thursday), frrom 9.00 pm to 11.00 pm. Starting in Plaça del Pi, continuing through Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol, then along Carrer de la Palla, Carrer dels Banys Nous, Carrer del Call, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer del Bisbe, Carrer de la Pietat, Carrer dels Comtes, Plaça de Sant Iu, Pla de la Seu, Carrer de Santa Llúcia, Plaça Nova, Carrer dels Boters, Plaça de Cucurulla, Carrer del Pi and ending in Plaça del Pi. Organised by: Reial i Il·lustre Arxiconfraria de la Puríssima Sang de Nostre Senyor Jesucrist de Barcelona.
- Procession of Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima Esperanza Macarena: on 18 April (Good Friday), from 5.00 pm to 11.00 pm. Starting in Plaça de Sant Agustí, continuing along Carrer de l’Hospital, Pla de la Boqueria, La Rambla, Carrer de Santa Anna, Portal de l’Àngel, Carrer dels Arcs, Avinguda de la Catedral, Plaça Nova, Carrer dels Boters, Carrer de Portaferrissa, La Rambla, Carrer de l’Hospital adn ending in Plaça de Sant Agustí. Organised by: Pontificia y Real Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos de Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena de Barcelona.
- Procession of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias: on 18 April (Good Friday) from 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm. Starting at the church of Sant Jaume, continuing along Carrer Ferran, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer del Bisbe, Carrer de Santa Llúcia, Pla de la Seu, Plaça Nova, Carrer dels Boters, Carrer del Pi, Carrer de la Palla, Plaça Nova, Carrer del Bisbe, Carrer de Sant Sever, Carrer de Sant Honorat, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer de Ferran and ending at the church of Sant Jaume. Organised by: Hermandad y Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias de Barcelona.
- Adoration of the Holy Christ of Lepanto Crucifix. Sermó de les Set Paraules predicat (Sermon of the Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross): on 18 April (Good Friday) at 3.00 pm. The Holy Christ of Lepanto Crucifix will emerge from the door of the Cathedral onto the Pla and Avinguda de la Seu in front of the building. Organised by: Barcelona Cathedral.
- Way of the Cross, Barcelona Cathedral: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 7.00 pm on Avinguda de la Catedral. Organised by: Barcelona Cathedral.
- Holy Saturday: on 19 April (Holy Saturday) from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm, in Plaça de Sant Agustí. Organised by: Immaculada Concepció i Sant Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church.
- Resurrection Sunday: on 20 April (Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday) from 9.00 am to 10.00 am in Plaça de Sant Agustí. Organised by: Immaculada Concepció i Sant Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 9.30 am. Start: Santa Maria del Mar Basilica. Organised by: Santa Maria del Mar Basilica.
EIXAMPLE:
- Procession: on 13 April (Palm Sunday) at 10.00 am. Start: Sant Eugeni I Papa Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Eugeni I Papa Parish Church.
- Procession: on 13 April (Palm Sunday) at 11.30 am. Start: Sant Eugeni I Papa Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Eugeni I Papa and Mare de Déu del Pilar Parish Churches.
- Procession: on 13 April (Palm Sunday) at 13.00 am. Start: Mare de Déu de la Miraculosa Parish Church. Organised by: Mare de Déu de la Miraculosa Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 21.00 am. Start: Façana de la Passió (Passion Façade) Organised by: Sagrada Família Cathedral.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 10.30 am. Start: Sant Ramon de Penyafort Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Ramon de Penyafort Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 12.00 noon. Start: Carrer Londres/Carrer Comte Borrell. Organised by: Church of Els Sagrats Cors
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 18.00 noon. Start: Parish Church of La Puríssima Concepció. Organised by: Parish Church of La Puríssima Concepció.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 12.00 noon. Start: Sant Eugeni I Papa Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Eugeni I Papa and Mare de Déu del Pilar Parish Churches.
SANTS-MONTJUÏC:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- At 12.00 noon in the church square. Organised by: Sant Cristòfol Parish Church.
- From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm in Plaça del Sortidor. Organised by: Mare de Déu de Lourdes Parish Church.
- From 11.00 am to 12.00 noon, in Plaça de Joan Corrades. Organised by: Sant Àngel Custodi and Santa Dorotea Parish Churches.
- At 1.00 pm in Plaça Matemàtiques, 35. Organised by the Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu.
- From 12.00 noon to 12.30 pm in Plaça de Can Mantega. Organised by: Sant Joan Maria de Vainney Parish Church.
- At 1.00 pm at the Parish Church of Mare de Déu del Port. Organised by: Parish Church of Mare de Déu del Port.
- At 11.00 am at the Parish Church of Sant Medir. Organised by: Parish Church of Sant Medir.
- Procession and Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm, starting in Plaça de Sant Cristòfol. Organised by: Sant Cristòfol Parish Church. At 6.00 pm way of the cross prayer.
- Processtion and Way of the Cross, Can Mantega: on 18 April (Good Friday) frrm 8.00 am to 9.30 am. Start: Sant Joan Maria Vianney Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Joan Maria Vianney Parish Church.
- Sermon on the Passion of Christ and Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 10.00 am. Organised by: Parish Church of Sant Medir.
- Procession: on 18 April (Good Friday) from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm, from Plaça de la Bella Dorita to Montjuïc Castle. Organised by: Immaculada Concepció i Sant Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church.
- Procession and Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 12.00 noon. Start: Mare de Déu del Port Parish Church. Organised by: Mare de Déu del Port Parish Church.
- Procession and Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 6.00 pm. Start: Sant Bartomeu Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Bartomeu Parish Church.
- Easter Vigil: on 19 April (Holy Saturday), at 6.00 pm at the Church of Sant Àngel Custodi. Organised by: Santa Dorotea / Sant Àngel Custodi Parish Unit.
- Easter Vigil: on 19 April (Holy Saturday), at 10.00 pm, at the Mare de Déu de Port Parish Church. Organised by: Mare de Déu de Port Parish Church.
LES CORTS:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- At 11.00 am on Avinguda de Sant Ramon Nonat. Organised by: Sant Ramon Nonat Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 8.00 am. Start: Santa Tecla Parish Church. Organised by: Santa Tecla Parish Church.
- Procession with the bearers of the religious floats: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 12.00 noon. Route: from the church of Santa Maria Reina to the Monastery of Pedralbes. Organised by: Sant Enric Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 12.00 noon. Start: Santuari de Santa Gemma. Organised by: Santuari de Santa Gemma.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 8.00 pm. Start: Santa Maria del Remei Parish Church. Organised by: Santa Maria del Remei Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 8.00 pm. Start: Sant Ramon Nonat Parish Church: Organised by: Sant Ramon Nonat Parish Church.
SARRIÀ-SANT GERVASI:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- From 10.15 am to 12.45 pm on Carrer de Mas Yebra (between Passeig de Sant Gervasi and Carrer de Lleó XIII). Organised by: Santa Cecília Parish Church.
- From 11.45 am to 12.30 pm, blessing and short procession. Route: Plaça de Mañé i Flaquer, c/ de Vallirana and c/ de Francolí, la Gleva, 25. Organised by: Santa Joaquima de Vedruna Parish Church
- Procession of Palms: on 12 April (Lazarus Saturday) at 7.00 pm. Route: c/ de La Torre, plaça de Mañé i Flaquer, c/ de Vallirana and c/ de Francolí, la Gelva, 25. Organised by: Santa Joaquima de Vedruna Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) from 10.45 am to 12.00 noon. Route: Carrer Major de Sarrià and Plaça de Sarrià (junction c/ Bonaplata to Església Sant Vicenç de Sarrià). Organised by: Sant Vicenç de Sarrià Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) from 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm. Route: carrer de La Gleva, c/ de Sant Hermenegild, c/ de Sant Guillem and c/ de Francolí, la Gleva 25. Organised by: Santa Joaquima de Vedruna Parish Church.
- Easter Vigil Procession: on 19 April (holy Saturday) from 10.30 pm to 11.30 pm. Route: Carrer de Sant Guillem (CEIP Poeta Foix), c/ de Francolí, la Gleva, 25. Organised by: Santa Joaquima de Vedruna Parish Church.
GRÀCIA:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- From 11.45 am to 1.00 pm in the gardens of La Sedeta. Organised by: Immaculat Cor de Maria Parish Church.
- Easter Vigil Blessing of the Fire: on 19 April (Holy Saturday) from 10.30 pm to 11.15 pm. On Carrer de Mare de Déu de la Salut at the junction with Carrer Sors i Clavell. Organised by: Mare de Deú de la Salut Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday), from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm. Route: through public areas of Park Güell, entering via Carretera del Carmel and ending on Three Crosses Hill. Organised by: Fieles San Benito Association.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 10.30 pm. Start: Chapel of Cottolengo del Pare Alegre. Organised by: Comunió i Alliberament.
HORTA-GUINARDÓ:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- In the morning. Organised by: Mare de Déu del Mont Carmel Parish Church.
NOU BARRIS:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- At 12.00 noon, in Plaça Santa Engràcia. Organised by: Santa Engràcia Parish Church.
- At 10.30 am on Carrer Palamós, 53. Organised by: Sant Josep Obrer Parish Church.
- At 12.30 pm, in Plaça Virrei Amat. Organised by: Santa Eulàlia de Vilapicina Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 10.30 pm. Start: Marquesina de Via Júlia. Organised by: Santa Engràcia Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 6.00 pm. Start: Plaça Virrei Amat. Organised by: Santa Eulàlia de Vilapicina Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 10.00 pm. Start: Sant Narcís Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Mateu de la Guingueta Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. Start: Mare de Déu de Fàtima Parish Church. Organised by: Mare de Déu de Fàtima Parish Church.
SANT ANDREU:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- From 12.00 noon to 12.30 pm in Plaça de Ferran Reyes. Organised by: Sant Joan Bosco Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) . Organised by: Sant Pius X Parish Church.
SANT MARTÍ:
- Blessing of palm branches (Palm Sunday, 13 April):
- At 10.45 am, outside the parish church. Short procession starting at the parish church of Sant Lluís Gonzaga, running along C. Selva de Mar, Rambla de Guipúscoa, C. Cantàbria and C. Selva de Mar, and finishing back at the church. Organised by: Sant Lluís Gonzaga Parish Church.
- At 11.00 am in Sant Martí. Organised by: Sant Martí de Provençals Parish Church.
- At 10.00 am on Carrer de Pere IV, 398. Organised by: Sagrat Cor de Jesús Parish Church.
- At 10.00 am in Plaça de Sant Bernat Calbó, 3. Organised by: Santa Maria del Taulat i Sant Bernat Calbó Parish Church.
- At 12.15 pm outside the parish church, followed by a short procession along Carrer de Ramon Turró, between Carrer de Badajoz and Carrer de Calàbria. Organised by: Sant Francesc d’Assís Parish Church.
- At 10.30 am, followed by a short procession along Carrer de Ramon Turró, Carrer de Llull, Carrer de la Selva de Mar, Passeig del Taulat, Carrer de Provençals and ending on Carrer de Ramon Turró at the junction with Provençals. Organised by: Sant Francesc de Pàola Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 11.30 am. Route: starting from C. Ramon Turró, running along C. Àvila and Av. Icària, stopping in front of the parish church of Patriarca Abraham (between C. Jaume Vicenç Vives and C. Bisbe Josep Climent), continuing along C. Badajoz and ending on C. Ramon Turró. Organised by: Sant Francesc d’Assís Parish Church.
- Way of the Cross: on 18 April (Good Friday) at 7.00 pm. Start: Sant Paulí de Nola Parish Church. Organised by: Sant Paulí de Nola Parish Church.
The most important event of Holy Week (according to the Gregorian calendar) for evangelical churches is the resurrection service (Easter Sunday, 20 April), when many churches hold a special service to commemorate Christ and the resurrection of Christ. This expression of Christ’s resurrection accompanies these congregants every day of the year, which is why evangelical crosses do not bear the figure of Christ.
For orthodox churches, Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) is the most important celebration of the year. All orthodox churches celebrate it according to the Julian calendar, unlike the world’s other churches, which follow the Gregorian calendar. Over the course of the week, they celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and vespers [evening prayers] and matins [morning prayers] on Easter Saturday. Processions are usually held on Easter Sunday, with congregants bearing a copy of the Gospel, the icon of the resurrection and candles. This year, Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday for orthodox churches will be on 20 April, coinciding with the rest of the Christian churches. CONSULT ALL THE DETAILS IN THE NEWS ITEM “Orthodox Holy Week 2025”.
One of the most important celebrations for Jehovah’s Witnesses is the death of Jesus on the 14th day of the month of Nissan (in the Biblical lunar calendar). Jehovah’s Witnesses do not consider the days of the death and resurrection of Jesus to be holy. They do not celebrate the resurrection, as their interpretation of the Bible is that Jesus commanded that his death be celebrated and not his resurrection. This year, the Memorial of the Death of Jesus Christ will take place on Saturday 12 April. You can find further information HERE.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church uses Holy Week (based on the Gregorian calendar) to recall the episodes and lessons from the last week of Jesus’ life leading up to his crucifixion. They don’t hold any special celebrations; in their churches, they spend time reading and reflecting on the Word of God on this very important matter, during their usual Saturday services.
L’Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons, do recognise Holy Week (based on the Gregorian calendar) although they do not hold any special celebrations. In their meetinghouses, congregations spend time reading and reflecting on the last days of Jesus’ life, with particular emphasis on the day of his resurrection.
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You can read the article on Orthodox Easter HERE.
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And the article “Holy Week: do all Christian traditions celebrate Easter the same way? No!” HERE.
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Read the brochure Catholic celebrations during Holy Week HERE (Catalan).