Crowds throng Seville as curb-free Easter processions return to Spain
By Mariano Valladolid
SEVILLE, April 15 (Reuters) - For the first time since the
COVID-19 pandemic began, crowds thronged the streets of Seville as one of
Spain's most iconic Easter processions wound its way through the city from
midnight free of social distancing curbs.
Known as La Madrugá, or The Dawn, the procession features
penitents who wear pointed black hoods and carry a float of the Virgin of Hope
of Macarena from the city's cathedral.
"We were waiting for the pandemic issues to be over to
come to these types of events. Of course La Macarena is the most marvellous
thing there is," Ignacio Suarez, 70, a truck driver, told Reuters close to
the cathedral after the procession ended.
Tens of thousands of people usually attend the city's
parades, which take place throughout Holy Week and where centuries-old
brotherhoods of the faithful carry effigies of Christ or the Virgin Mary laden
with candles and flowers.
All of Spain's traditional Easter processions have been
cancelled since 2020 due to the pandemic.
The country imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns
at the start of the pandemic but most curbs have been gradually withdrawn after
COVID infection levels dropped following a comprehensive vaccination programme.
Find words in the text that match the following
definitions:
1. to
move upon or fill (something) in great numbers
2. widely
recognized and well-established
3. caused
to move in a curving line or path
4. controls
or limitations
5. to give
special prominence or protagonism to
6. a
vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade
7. a topic
of discussion
8. a public
procession celebrating a special day or event, usually with bands in the
streets and decorated vehicles
9. an
organization formed for a particular purpose, especially a religious society or
political organisation
10. people
who believe in a religion; strong supporters of a political party who will not
change their views
11. a
statue of a famous person, a saint or a god
12. heavily
loaded with something
13. introduction
of a new law, rule, tax, etc.; ordering that a rule, punishment, etc. be used
14. an
official order to control the movement of people or vehicles because of a
dangerous situation
Article taken from Reuters.com