Holy Week Proclamation

The tradition of proclaiming Baena’s Holy Week dates back several decades, although the Association of Brotherhoods revived it in 1986, with the local historian Manuel Horcas Gálvez as the first herald. Since then, each year the auditorium of the Sagrada Familia Professional Schools (SAFA), and now the Teatro Liceo, has hosted this event, where the history of Holy Week is explored, the poetic value of the processions is celebrated, and the emotions of past heralds are remembered.

Jew’s Proclamation

The “First Squad of Black-Tail Jews” organizes every year an event honoring the figure of the Jew, where the herald is presented, and the official poster of the celebration is unveiled. This association, founded several years ago, aims to keep alive the tradition of representing the Jew during Baena’s Holy Week.

Children’s Proclamation

The children’s proclamation of Baena’s Holy Week is a long-standing tradition that seeks to transmit devotion and enthusiasm for the Holy Week to younger generations.

Porter’s Proclamation

In Baena, the “Porter’s Proclamation” pays tribute to the figure of the costalero (the one who carries the processional floats). It includes speeches, music, and other elements that highlight the importance of the costaleros in the celebration.

Drumming Workshop

Workshop aimed at young Jews up to 14 years old. In recent years, it has also been extended to adults. This activity has been organized by the Association of Brotherhoods since at least 1998.

Saetas Workshop

The saeta is a fundamental part of Baena’s Holy Week, sung during the processions. It is a traditional flamenco chant with roots in popular verses, which has evolved into two forms: the primitive and the flamenco saeta. In Baena, figures such as Eduardo Tarifa stand out for promoting the creation of a saeta school and helping keep this tradition alive.

‘Arco Oscuro’ Photography Contest

Organized by the Association of Brotherhoods and the Baena City Council, rewarding the best photographs related to Holy Week.

School Writing Contest “Baena is Holy Week”

Aimed at primary school students, encouraging writing about this local tradition.

Poster Contest for Holy Week

Organized by the Association of Brotherhoods in collaboration with the City Council, this contest awards the best photograph, which becomes the official image of the celebration.

Photography Contest on the Jew

Organized by the Second Squad of the White-Tail Jews.

“Centurion’s Soldiers” Photography Contest

Aims to capture the essence of the Black Romans during Baena’s Holy Week, focusing on this historic figure within the context of the celebration, organized by the Black Romans group.

It is a gastronomic event held annually on the weekend before the town fair, at the Palace of Congresses. Organized by the Association of Brotherhoods, in collaboration with the brotherhoods and the Baena City Council, it offers a wide variety of tapas prepared by the participating brotherhoods, which can be paired with wines from the Montilla-Moriles Designation of Origin.

Drum and Bass Drum Exaltation Days: Held every year for more than two decades. Fifteen days before Palm Sunday, as if drawn by an unknown magnetic force, thousands of people gather in one of the towns from the five autonomous communities that make up the National Drum and Bass Drum Exaltation Days. It doesn’t matter if hundreds of kilometers must be traveled — in Baena, the celebration nearly takes over the town for two full days.

In Baena, it has been held on four occasions: in 1992, 1999, 2006, and 2016.