Canopy poles for Holy Week

Canopy pole for Holy Week

• Canopy pole for processional canopy float and liturgical processions.
• The upper finial has a pinecone shape.
• Made in bronze with a glossy finish.
• Canopy pole split into two sections of 114 cm (44.88 in) approximately.
• The finial measures 9 cm (3.54 in) high.
• The tubular section is smooth.
• Purchase price per unit.
• Also for sale the embroidered processional canopy of six poles to complete the set.

What is a canopy pole?

The canopy pole is a processional pole that supports and stabilises the canopy of the processional float in Holy Week. This canopy pole split into two sections facilitates assembly and transport.

In the canopy poles, the main function is structural: to keep the canopy at a constant height and distribute forces during the advance.

Poles split into two or three sections are easy to assemble and reduce the space taken up in the storeroom.

Bronze is a material that is very resistant to knocks, breakages, and inclement weather. The glossy finish produces beautiful reflections, especially in processions that take place at night, by candlelight. The smooth tube makes it easy to pass a cleaning cloth after the station. This characteristic is relevant when dust and wax residues accumulate on the structure, especially on long processions and in repeated assemblies throughout the confraternal calendar.

Meaning of the canopy poles

The sense of the poles is understood within the processional ensemble, where each element organises the advance and helps to live the celebration as a common journey. As the Directory n. 98 recalls, the procession is understood as a path travelled together in prayer, song, and orientation towards a shared goal. Consequently, the correct arrangement of the poles contributes to the harmony of the canopy float and the orderly functioning of the procession.

In the Christian tradition, poles are mentioned as a resource for carrying sacred objects, which reinforces the idea of their function of service and not of mere adornment.

Emblematic canopies and poles of Spain

Spain is a country deeply linked to Holy Week. Easter is especially important in Seville. A high percentage of Sevillian women and Sevillian men form part of a confraternity or brotherhood that goes out in procession during the celebration of Holy Week.

The canopies of the processions of Sevillian Holy Week are some of the most emblematic and spectacular in the world. The confraternities and brotherhoods of the city of Seville possess canopies of extraordinary beauty and antiquity.

Some of the best known are,

• Canopy of the Macarena

The canopy of the Virgen de la Macarena is perhaps the most famous in Seville. The Brotherhood of the Macarena processes one of the most beloved images of Seville: the Virgen de la Esperanza de la Macarena (Virgin of the Hope of the Macarena), a carving made in the sixteenth century. The canopy of this brotherhood has a classic elegance, with colours that range from crimson to gold, reflecting the historical importance of this devotion.

The procession of the canopy of the Macarena is one of the most anticipated events of Sevillian Holy Week, with crowds exceeding 100,000 spectators.

• Canopy of the Esperanza de Triana

The canopy of the Virgen de la Esperanza del barrio de Triana (Virgin of Hope of the Triana neighbourhood) corresponds to the Easter Brotherhood of the Hope of Triana, which processes the image of the Virgin of Hope. This canopy is known for its sobriety and elegance, with a particularly abundant floral decoration.

The Triana neighbourhood is the heart of Sevillian Holy Week, and the procession of the canopy of the Hope of Triana is an event that attracts both devotees and tourists from all over the world.

• Canopy of the Estrella

The canopy of the Virgen de la Estrella (Virgin of the Star) has deep historical roots in Seville.

• Canopy of the Silencio

The Sevillian procession of the Silencio (Silence) is one of the most moving. The brotherhood that processes it has the peculiarity that its members advance in silence. During the processions of the Easter Brotherhood of the Silence, an atmosphere of recollection and unique contemplation is created.