The written heritage of Lucena’s popular religiosity

Over the course of more than a century, Holy Week, the Glory festivities, and the popular religiosity of Lucena have generated an extraordinary editorial, journalistic, and documentary legacy, which today constitutes one of the principal cultural expressions linked to local traditions. Books, magazines, proclamations, articles, historical and anthropological studies, photographic publications, musical research, monographs on religious brotherhoods, posters and digital media together form a rich documentary heritage that bears witness to the deep social, cultural, and devotional significance of these celebrations in the life of the town.

The continuity of this written and visual output also demonstrates the capacity of Holy Week and the Glory festivities of Lucena to generate collective memory, knowledge, research and intergenerational transmission centred on a living heritage that extends far beyond the strictly religious sphere. This legacy provides insight not only into the history of its brotherhoods and confraternities, but also into the unique phenomenon of ‘santería’, the town’s sculptural and monumental heritage, processional music, the Lucena ‘saeta’, its sound heritage, and the principal Passion and Glory devotions that shape the cultural identity of Lucena.

Holy Week and the Glory Festivities in the local press

The first references to Holy Week in Lucena in the local press appeared in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through brief reports on religious worships and penitential processions. With the revival of the brotherhoods, particulary during the Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship, the printed press began to provide more detailed information on the brotherhoods, religious worships, processions, and the main local devotions.

Following the Spanish Civil War, the local press re-emerged with publications such as Producción, from 1953 onwards, and Luceria, from 1955. Subsequently, Gaceta Lucentina, published between 1980 and 1984, revived the monographic coverage of Holy Week and introduced reports on ‘santería’, analyses of ‘cuadrillas’ (carrying teams), and diagrams of the processional thrones showing the names of the santeros.

In 1988, La Voz de Lucena y del Sur de la Provinciawas launched, directed by Gonzalo Angulo Vigo, who for decades maintained its special Holy Week editions, featuring procession routes, interviews, information on governing boards, and reports on brotherhoods’ activities. The most recent issue on this subject was published in 2019.

Alongside these publications, magazines such as Araceli, published by the Real Archicofradía de María Santísima de Araceli (Royal Archconfraternity of María Santísima de Araceli) since 1958, have made a decisive contribution to preserving the memory of the Glory festivities and one of the great historical devotions of Lucena.

Magazines, newsletters and periodical publications

Within the world of Lucena’s religious brotherhoods, Torralbo, stands out as the educational and informational publication of the Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena, with its first issue appearing during Lent in 1982. Over the years, this publication has established itself as a leading reference for the study and promotion of Holy Week in Lucena, with both regular issues and special editions, such as the one dedicated to the Magna Pasionista Procession.

The Official Programme for Holy Week in Lucena, published regularly by the Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena since the 1980s, is also a key reference publication for the annual dissemination of religious services, timetables, procession routes, newly introduced heritage elements, and other content related to the celebrations.

From the 1980s onwards, there was a proliferation of numerous magazines and newsletters published by Passion and Glory brotherhoods. These include Fe y Hermandad (Faith and Brotherhood), Campanitas (Littel Bells), Silencio (Silence), Getsemaní (Gethsemane), Humildad (Humility), Pasión Franciscana (Franciscan Passion), Resurrección y Ángeles (Resurrection and Angels), Columna de Esperanza (Pillar of Hope), Encuentro (Encounter), Soledad (Solitude), Carmelo de Pasión (Carmel of Passion) and Servitas (Servites), some of which are still published annually. Within the sphere of the Glory confraternities, notable publications include San José Artesano, Rocío, Aurora o Madre del Valle, in additions to the aforementioned Revista Araceli. 

These magazines, many of which began as internal newsletters, have evolved into publications of considerable historical, artistic, and documentary value, featuring research articles, educational content, photographs, literary texts, and accounts of the internal life of the brotherhoods and confraternities.

Special mention should be made of Entrevarales, a free magazine published every Lent between 1991 and 2003 on the private inititative of Fernando Servián Corredera.

Studies on Holy Week, ‘Santería’ and Religious Heritage

The unique nature of Holy Week in Lucena, and in particular, the phenomenon of ‘santería’, has been the subject of numerous studies. One of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging studies published to date on the history of the religious brotherhoods and confraternities of Lucena is Notas para la historia de las cofradías lucentinas (Notes for the History of Lucena’s Brotherhoods and Confraternities), a work by Francisco López Salamanca, published in 2022, which provides an exhaustive examination of the historical, social, religious and heritage evolution of Lucena’s brotherhood world. Also noteworthy is Horquillo, diccionario semanasantero de Lucena (Horquillo: A Dictionary of Holy Week in Lucena) (1998), by Ricardo Moreno Gómez; Los orígenes de la Semana Santa, sus inicios en Lucena (The Origins of Holy Week: Its Beginnings in Lucena) (1999), by José Rodríguez de Millán; El propiciatorio de Dios (The Propitiatory of God). Evolución, morfología y síntesis del trono lucentino (Evolution, Morphology and Synthesis of the Lucena Processional Throne) (2003), by Juan Carlos García Moscoso; Lucena y la santería (Lucena and the Santería Tradition). La santería lucentina desde una perspectiva história (Santería in Lucena from a historical perspective) (2008), by José Antonio Villalba Muñoz; and La santería de ayer y hoy (Santería: Past and Present) (2019), by Agustín Carrasco Jiménez.

Another standout is Cabañuelas de Pasión. Holy Week in Lucena: Entre la realidad y el deseo (Between Reality and Desire) (2002), by Luisfernando Palma Robles, a work that explores Holy Week from a literary and reflective perspective, deeply connected to the local identity of Lucena. Also by this author, note his work Paz, Esperanza, Lucena (Peace, Hope, Lucena). Lucena: Cofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Columna y María Santísima de la Paz y Esperanza (The Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of the Column and Lady Mary of Peace and Hope) published in 2005 and Pedro Muñoz de Toro y el drama pasionista lucentino (Pedro Muñoz de Toro and the Passion Drama of Lucena) in 2022.

To these titles may be added a number of monographs and works of provincial or wider scope in which Lucena is represented through its religious and confraternity heritage, such as Catálogo Artístico y Monumental de la Provincia de Córdoba (The Artistic and Monumental Catalogue of the Province of Córdoba) (1987), La Semana Santa en los pueblos cordobeses (Holy Week in the Villages of Córdoba Province) (1990), and Antropología cultural andaluza (Andalusian Cultural Anthropology). El Viernes Santo al sur de Córdoba (Good Friday in Southern Córdoba) (1990) by José Luque Requerey, Conservación del patrimonio cofradiero (Conservation of Confraternity Heritage) (1997), La Pasión de Córdoba (The Passion in Córdoba) (1998), Guía de la Semana Santa de la provincia de Córdoba (Guide to Holy Week in the Province of Córdoba) (2019), La Semana Santa en Caminos de Pasión (Holy Week on the Paths of Passion) (2019) or La Semana Santa en Europa: una tradición viva (Holy Week in Europe: a Living Tradition) (2021), published by the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations.

Sound Heritage in Books

Lucena’s musical heritage is also documented in specialised publications that help to explain the importance of music, drumming, the ‘saeta’ and other acoustic expressions associated with popular piety.

This include the Banda de música de Lucena (Lucena Marching Band). Del siglo XIX al siglo XXI (From the 19th to the 21th Century) (2003), by Manuel Montero Ocaña e Inmaculada Díaz Blázquez; Origen y evolución de la saeta lucentina (Origin and Evolution of the Lucena Saeta) (2008), by Juan Carlos García Moscoso; Tiempo de tambores (Time of Drums) (2009), published by the Hermandad de Tambores de Lucena (Brotherhood of Drumers of Lucena) and coordinated by Francisco López Salamanca; and Barrio de la Calzada (Calzada District). Letras de Fandangos de Lucena (Fandango Lyrics of Lucena) (2017), by Antonio Rivas.

These works offer a broader perspective on a tradition that is not only seen but also heard: in the beat of the drum, in the torralbo, in the processional marches, in the saeta and in the town’s own sounds. In addition to literary works, there is also the release of several CDs and audio recordings, which help to preserve and disseminate some of the most characteristic sounds of Holy Week in Lucena and compositions associated with the Glory celebrations. Processional marches, ‘saetas’, drum and torralbo rhythms, musical compositions, and recordings linked to the traditions of the religious brotherhoods are also part of this intangible heritage, helping to preserve a distinctive musical identity that is deeply rooted in the town’s collective memory.

Publications by Passion and Glory Brotherhoods and Confraternities

The brotherhoods and confraternities of Lucena themselves have promoted numerous publications dedicated to their history, anniversaries, titular images, and devotions. Among the earliest is Bodas de Oro de la Cofradía del Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre (Golden Jubilee of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Christ of the Blood) (1924-1974), coordinated by Francisco López Salamanca.

Particulary significant is the bibliographical output about María Santísima de Araceli, with titles such as Documentos para una historia de María Santísima de Araceli (Documents for a History of Mary Most Holy of Araceli), by Francisco López Salamanca, published within the Lucentina Library Collection and covering different historical periods: 1562-1750 (1993), 1751-1800 (1995) and 1801-1850 (1999). To these may be added Historia de la coronación canónica de María Santísima de Araceli (History of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Araceli) (1998) also by Francisco López Salamanca, Historia de la devoción aracelitana (History of the Araceli Devotion) (2019) likewise by López Salamanca, and Reto Aracelitano (Araceli Challenge) (2022), published by the Real Archicofradía de María Santísima de Araceli.

Also noteworthy are works dedicated to Passion and Glory brotherhoods and confraternities, such as La archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, cuatrocientos años de historia (The Archconfraternity of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene: Four Hundred Years of History), by Francisco López Salamanca; Historia de la cofradía de María Santísima de la Soledad (History of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Solitude) (2003) by Francisco López Salamanca; Historia de la cofradía del Cristo de la Salud y Misericordia (History of the Brotherhood of Christ of Health and Mercy) (2005), by Francisco López Salamanca; Historia de la cofradía de San José Artesano (History of the Confraternity of St. Joseph the Craftsman) (2015), by Francisco López Salamanca; Historia de la archicofradía de Nuestra Señora del Carmen (History of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) (2019), by Francisco López Salamanca; El Amarrado a la Columna de la Veracruz (The Bound Christ of the Veracruz Column) (2024), by Luisfernando Palma Robles; and XXV años de historia de la Venerable Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (Twenty-Five Years of History of the Venerable Archconfraternity of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene) (2025), by Francisco López Salamanca.

In addition, it may be added commemorative publications such as 75 aniversario de la Cofradía del Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre (75th Anniversary of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Christ of the Blood) (1924-1999) and Immaculada : 150 aniversario de la proclamación del Dogma (Immaculate: 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Dogma) (2005), by the Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena, with texts by Ricardo Moreno, Francisco López Salamanca and Antonio Cruz Casado.

Many of these publications have been promoted directly by the brotherhoods and confraternities themselves, in collaboration with public institutions or private organisations, as a tool for historical preservation, heritage dissemination, and the transmission of the collective memory of Lucena’s popular religiosity.

Proclamation Tradition and Documentary Legacy

Proclamations constitute another essential chapter within Lucena’s documentary heritage. The Agrupación de Cofradías organised the first Holy Week Proclamation of Lucena in 1953, delivered by Pedro Palop Fuentes. Subsequently, proclamations such as those delivered by Francisco Sánchez González (1963) and José Luque Requerey (1972) were published.

In 1988, the Agrupación compiled the Holy Week proclamations from the period 1984-1988 into a single volume, and since then the annual publication of these texts has helped to preserve a fundamental part of Lucena’s confraternity discourse.

Also noteworthy are the compilations of Pregones Aracelitanos (Araceli Proclamations) (1948-2002) , published in four volumes, as well as the proclamations of Antonio Ortiz Muñoz (1961) and Rafael Cabello de Alba (1964), the compilation edited by Francisco López Salamanca in 1991 and the three volumes published between 2003 and 2007 containing proclamations from the period 1970-2002.

Some brotherhoods have also promoted their own compilations, such as the collection of proclamations of the Cofradía de la Santa Fe (Confraternity of the Holy Faith), covering the period 1984-2004, or the first volume of proclamations of Jesús Nazareno (Jesus the Nazarene), which includes those delivered between 1991 and 1996.

Literature, Narrative and Photography

Holy Week and the devotions of Lucena have also inspired literary, poetic and photographic works. Notable works in poetry and narrative are Noches de Silencio (Nights of Silence) (2004), by Manuel Borrego de Alarcón; La vieja túnica y otros relatos (The Old Tunic and Other Stories (2017), by Manuel Guerrero Cabrera; and Los Pilares de Lucena (The Pillars of Lucena) (2018), by Francisco Romero Gutiérrez.

In the field of photography is noteworthly Ana y Antonio ven la Pasión de Lucena (Ana and Antonio See the Passion of Lucena) (1994), with photographs by Ana María Maíllo and Antonio Muñoz Cañete “Ortega” and texts by Luisfernando Palma Robles and Francisco López Salamanca; and Lux passionis (2018), with photographs by Joaquín Ferrer and Jesús Ruiz “Gitanito”.

These works provide a visual and emotional perspective on Holy Week in Lucena, its sacred images, its light, its streets, its silences, and the intensity with which the city experiences its traditions.

Historic Posters and Graphic Heritage

Alongside printed publications, posters constitute another of the great graphic and documentary heritages associated with the popular religiosity of Lucena. Through it, you can observe the artistic, aesthetic, and devotional evolution of Holy Week and the Glory festivities of the city over the decades.

Particularly significant is the Official Holy Week Poster of Lucena, published by the Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena, which, although it has a number of earlier precedents, has been issued continuously since 1970. This collection of posters constitutes an important visual archive of the celebration, reflecting not only the artistic and graphic evolution of each era, but also the aesthetic transformation of the brotherhoods and confraternities themselves, their sacred images, and the ways in which Lucena’s popular religiosity has been represented.

In addition, the extensive body of posters produced by the Passion and Glory brotherhoods and confraternities themselves, which in most cases annually publish posters announcing their religious worships, penitential processions, processions and principal events.

Among them, particular prominence is given to the official poster of the Araceli Festivities, published annually by the Royal Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Araceli, which has, over time, become one of the most recognisable and representative graphic works of Lucena’s festive and devotional calendar.

This graphic heritage is a valuable documentary source for understanding the iconographic, artistic, and communicative evolution of Lucena’s religious celebrations, while also reflecting the close relationship between art, faith, tradition, and collective memory.

A Living Documentary Heritage

All these publications are part of a living documentary heritage that makes it possible to study, preserve, and disseminate the religious, cultural, artistic, and social richness of Lucena. From Holy Week to the Glory festivities, from ‘santería’ to music, from the historic press to the proclamations, this editorial legacy reflects a town that has known how to write, photograph, research, and transmit its traditions.

This work is further complemented by extensive outreach activity not always recorded in printed form, consisting of lectures, round tables, presentations, and debates delivered by official chroniclers, historians, confraternity members, and experts in the traditions of Lucena. 

Nor should we overlook the publications that have appeared in the media, which contribute decisively to documenting, disseminating, and promoting Holy Week and the Glory festivities of Lucena beyond the local sphere. Chronicles, feature reports, interviews, special editions, and audiovisual content have helped to convey to the public the uniqueness of ‘santería’, the heritage value of the brotherhoods and confraternities, and the cultural and social significance of celebrations that are deeply rooted in Lucena’s identity.

Far from being a mere bibliographical inventory, this work constitutes evidence of the vitality of Lucena’s popular religiosity and of its capacity to generate knowledge, memory, and a shared identity.

Retrieved from: Notas para la historia de las cofradías lucentinas (Notes for the History of Lucena’s Brotherhoods and Confraternities). Book by Francisco López Salamanca, Lucena’s oficial chronicler (2022)