25/03/2021
The White Palm of Elche: we discover the traditional crafts of Alicante's Holy Week
Easter week is one of the most important dates in the calendars of much of the world each spring. During these days, centuries-old traditions are repeated around the figure of Jesus of Nazareth, being in Spain where these celebrations have reached an incomparable level of spectacularism, after having incorporated into the Christian liturgy the folklore of their peoples and a very important historical legacy of works of art, fruits of the most outstanding artistic movements of all centuries.
Imagination, goldsmithing, embroidery, chandlery ... are some of the traditions that the artisans of these lands have worked on throughout history and the result of which can be enjoyed in the processional parades that run through the streets of towns and cities, the palms of Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) are the artisan contribution of the Costa Blanca in this unique celebration.
The essence of the Levante Holy Week
Next, we want to show you this great example of the arts linked to Holy Week such as the crafts of the white palm of Elche. Undoubtedly, it is a jewel of the province of Alicante that every Palm Sunday can be found in the hands of thousands of people from Alicante, but also the Spanish Royal Family or the Pope of Rome, enjoy these works of art, that have been made for generations by the Serrano Valero family, whose workshop we have visited for you to enjoy.
Do not miss how the palm bouquets are made!
How are the white palms made for Palm Sunday?
The use of palms in the Christian tradition acknowledges the staging of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion, when on the back of a donkey, the people came out to receive him and acclaim him waving palms and olive branches, two classic trees of the Mediterranean.
During Palm Sunday, the palms and branches are blessed and it is customary to place them on windows and balconies during Holy Week. Afterwards, they must be kept until the celebration of Ash Wednesday, when the remains produced by burning the white palms blessed the previous year are used in the ritual.
The white palms are the very personal contribution made by the people of Elche, to the Christian celebration, dating back to the 15th century, there is evidence that the people of Elche exported the white palm to different European cities. However, its pagan use in this area of the Costa Blanca is ancestral and was already used in ceremonies of the Iberian era, as has been verified from the painting of ceramic pieces found from the 5th and 4th centuries BC. at the La Alcudia site (Elche, Alicante).
How to make a work of art out of a palm
To preserve the light and vibrant colour of the white palms, they are brushed one by one and placed in special pools to bleach them. After that, they rest in cooling containers to keep them in optimal conservation conditions until they are shipped as a smooth white palm, or until the wonderful work of curling or braiding begins. Each family of white palm growers produces more than 6,000 braided palms per year, to which they must add as many smooth ones as possible. A colossal job.
This work has been carried out for centuries by curlers, once the harvesters' women who, from mother to daughter, and always with infinite patience and dedication, have passed on the secrets of painstakingly complicated art.
From their imagination and manual dexterity, infinite ornamental designs have emerged where flowers, stars, chains, crosses, balls and even representations of the Virgin or the saints come to life after hours of work in which the different parts are sewn on the palm with the very threads of palm leaves.
A palm like the one in the following photograph made for Queen Letizia of Spain, which even has a Virgin sculpted in palm among a myriad of other ornaments, can involve a whole week of work in daily shifts of 12 hours with the participation up to 4 curlers simultaneously. You will be speechless!
What do the bouquets and palms of Holy Week mean?
The use of palms in the Christian tradition acknowledges the staging of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion, when on the back of a donkey, the people came out to receive him and acclaim him waving palms and olive branches, two classic trees of the Mediterranean.
During Palm Sunday, the palms and branches are blessed and it is customary to place them on windows and balconies during Holy Week. Afterwards, they must be kept until the celebration of Ash Wednesday, when the remains produced by burning the white palms blessed the previous year are used in the ritual.
The white palms are the very personal contribution made by the people of Elche, to the Christian celebration, dating back to the 15th century, there is evidence that the people of Elche exported the white palm to different European cities. However, its pagan use in this area of the Costa Blanca is ancestral and was already used in ceremonies of the Iberian era, as has been verified from the painting of ceramic pieces found from the 5th and 4th centuries BC. at the La Alcudia site (Elche, Alicante).
Where can you enjoy the white palm event?
It is an atypical year, but this weekend the white palm market opens in Plaça de Baix, in the heart of the historic Center of Elche.Thus, people from Elche, Alicante from neighbouring towns and all the tourists who come this Friday of Dolores (March 26th) and Saturday of Passion (March 27th) from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., will be able to buy the palm that they will use on Palm Sunday or they will take as a souvenir of their visit to the city.
In addition, and although this year there is no spectacular procession that would normally bring together thousands of people in the most emblematic places of the city of Elche and which was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1997, the City Council of Elche has organized a virtual celebration through its social networks that aims to keep the flame of this centuries-old tradition alive in the hearts of the people of Elche.
Sign up for this appointment and dream of living a Palm Sunday on the Costa Blanca!
