In addition to the liturgical acts that take place within the parish church, Easter celebrations begin on the evening of Good Friday with the Procesión del Silencio (Silent Procession). Various brotherhoods and guilds carry and accompany the pasos (elaborate floats of religious wooden sculptures), chronologically representing individual scenes of the Passion and death of Christ. The local church authorities and the band bring up the rear.
The caramelles are traditional Catalan songs that announce the beginning of Easter and the end of Holy Week. Caramelles are sung in various towns in Catalonia, although the lyrics and music are not necessarily the same. The groups of male singers wear the barretina (a traditional woollen hat worn at popular cultural events and a symbol of Catalan identity) and a carnation in their lapel. On the evening of Holy Saturday and all day Easter Monday, these groups sing around town accompanied by a band. They begin in front of the Town Hall and sing to the local authorities and then continue to different locations, establishments and private homes. The groups have a basket attached to a long pole to reach balconies and collect donations. The music is popular Catalan music (sardanas, habaneras, waltzes…) and the lyrics in Catalan are dedicated to spring, Sitges, women…
