{"id":3150,"date":"2020-04-28T20:26:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T20:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goobidos.com\/semana-santa-de-obidos\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T23:44:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T23:44:50","slug":"obidos-holy-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goobidos.com\/en\/obidos-holy-week\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00d3bidos Holy Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Inspiration<\/a>><\/span>Festivals<\/a><\/p>\n

By the Go\u00d3bidos Team\u25cf<\/i>9 March 2016<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00d3bidos Holy Week: Processions, Music and Four Centuries of Tradition<\/h1>\n
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Torchlit processions, the barefoot \u201cgafa\u00fa\u201d and the 400-year-old Procession of the Steps: why Holy Week is the high point of the \u00d3bidos calendar.<\/p>\n

Copy link<\/a>Facebook<\/a>Pinterest<\/a>X<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Palm
The Palm Sunday procession in the streets of \u00d3bidos. Photo: Go\u00d3bidos<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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In this article<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ceremonies<\/a> The history of Holy Week<\/a> How to get to \u00d3bidos<\/a> Other annual events<\/a> Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Every year, the religious and cultural ceremonies of \u00d3bidos Holy Week<\/strong> draw thousands of people to the village. They are among the oldest in Portugal: the Procession of the Steps (Prociss\u00e3o dos Passos) is more than 400 years old.<\/p>\n

Holy Week is the high point of the liturgical and cultural calendar of \u00d3bidos, an important moment for the local community and for the many pilgrims and visitors who come to watch. Classical concerts, mostly of sacred music, and other cultural activities complete the programme.<\/p>\n

Related: Festivals in \u00d3bidos<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Statue
A statue of Jesus during Holy Week in \u00d3bidos. Photo: Go\u00d3bidos<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ceremonies<\/h2>\n

The re-enactment of the Descent from the Cross ends with the moving Procession of the Burial of the Lord, held in darkness except for the torches carried by young people placed along the route.<\/p>\n

On Easter Sunday, the Eucharistic Procession goes out with representatives of the parishes. In the 1960s it was opened by the carried image of the Risen Lord, a 17th-century statue venerated in the Church of S\u00e3o Tiago, by the castle.<\/p>\n

\"Procession
The Procession of the Steps, more than 400 years old. Photo: Go\u00d3bidos<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The history of Holy Week<\/h2>\n

\u00d3bidos remains a stage for historical and religious celebrations. Evoking the Passion and death of Christ, Holy Week brings people together out of devotion or simple cultural curiosity, and it soon became the best \u201cposter\u201d for the village. In 1963 the ceremonies were included in the national tourism calendar.<\/p>\n

The tradition begins with the centuries-old Penitential Procession of the Third Order of Saint Francis, which prepares the inner journey of Lent. Floats richly decorated with flowers carry some of the main saints of Franciscan devotion.<\/p>\n

On Palm Sunday, over a carpet of olive branches, rosemary and greenery, the Procession of the Lord of the Steps winds through the streets inside and outside the walls. It stops at small shrines evoking the Stations of the Passion and ends at the Church of the Miseric\u00f3rdia.<\/p>\n

The procession is led by a traditional figure, the gafa\u00fa<\/em>, who walks barefoot with his head wrapped in a cloth and plays a wind instrument called the serpent\u00e3o<\/em>. He represents the executioner, announcing to the crowd that the condemned man is approaching.<\/p>\n

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The square by the Church of S\u00e3o Tiago during Holy Week. Photo: Go\u00d3bidos<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to get to \u00d3bidos<\/h2>\n

\u00d3bidos is about 45 minutes north of Lisbon. By car, take the A8 motorway (around \u20ac5 in tolls from Lisbon). From Porto, take the A1 to Leiria and then the A8 towards Lisbon.<\/p>\n

By bus, Rede Expressos leaves from Sete Rios and Rodovi\u00e1ria do Oeste from Campo Grande, both in Lisbon. The train is slower and the \u00d3bidos station is some distance from the centre of the village.<\/p>\n

Other annual events in \u00d3bidos<\/h2>\n

Holy Week marks Easter, but the village hosts festivals all year round: the International Chocolate and Pastry Festival<\/a> in spring, the Medieval Market<\/a> in summer, the FOLIO literary festival<\/a> in autumn and the \u00d3bidos Christmas Village<\/a> in December. See the full calendar in Festivals in \u00d3bidos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Recommended guided tour<\/p>\n

Guided tours in \u00d3bidos<\/a><\/p>\n

Walk the processional route with a local guide and hear the stories of the churches, queens and legends of \u00d3bidos.<\/p>\n

See the tours \u00b7 from \u20ac33<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

When is \u00d3bidos Holy Week?<\/h3>\n

It takes place in the week before Easter, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Dates change every year with the Easter calendar.<\/p>\n

What is the Procession of the Steps?<\/h3>\n

It is the Palm Sunday procession of the Lord of the Steps, which has taken place for more than 400 years. It stops at small shrines evoking the Passion and ends at the Church of the Miseric\u00f3rdia.<\/p>\n

Who is the \u201cgafa\u00fa\u201d?<\/h3>\n

A traditional figure who walks barefoot at the head of the procession, playing the serpent\u00e3o<\/em>. He represents the executioner announcing the arrival of the condemned man.<\/p>\n

More about \u00d3bidos<\/h2>\n