Maundy Thursday Morning in Verges

On Maundy Thursday morning, the weather keeps the whole village on edge. Those preparing the Procession watch the sky, hoping that so many hours of work will be able to shine when night comes.

The local memory recorded in this article says that “it never rains in Verges on Maundy Thursday”. It expresses the hopes and nerves of the day, rather than offering a weather guarantee. The same account recalls that in 1974 the final stretch had to be finished in a hurry, and that financial assistance was later requested: modest, but welcome.

Getting the square ready for the night

In the plaça Major, chairs are laid out, the performance area is prepared and the stage elements are readied. These finishing touches are part of a much wider effort: some people handle the equipment while others go over the roles they will perform that evening.

Memories of preparations in earlier years include red curtains topped by five torches, children around the stage, and Pilate’s throne or the Last Supper table waiting their turn. These were brought on between acts during pauses in the darkness. The production has evolved; these memories should not be read as an inventory of today’s stage set.

Preparing the carrer dels Cargols

This morning is a good time to see preparations in the carrer dels Cargols. The carrer Orient is one of its best-known locations, but the snail-shell lighting also extends to the carrer Migdia and other parts of the route. The street signs reflect this double identity: its everyday name and its name on Procession night.

The neighbours plan the placement of the shells ahead of time and work with great care. A paste of ash mixed with water holds them to the walls. In the afternoon, oil and a wick are added to provide the evening’s light. Watching this work in daylight helps explain what later seems like magic.

Decorating the processional statues

Another sight worth seeing is the decoration of the misteris, the sculpted groups carried in the Procession: the Pistolets, Our Lady of Sorrows, the Nazarene and the Pietà. The figure of Christ on the cross has a more austere presence. Flowers, greenery and the work of each group prepare the statues for their journey through the streets.

Moving them also takes planning. Our Lady of Sorrows stands out because women carry her entirely by hand, without wheels. The teams taking turns in the older account give a sense of that shared effort. Exact weights and numbers of participants should not be treated as fixed from one edition to the next.

Each neighbourhood has its own way

Memories of the decorations preserve the places and colours of each neighbourhood. These village scenes are worth keeping, even though locations and flower choices may change:

Our Lady of Sorrows was decorated inside a house, away from the sloping street, with yellow carnations and white gladioli.
In the Placeta, white lilies covered the feet of the Nazarene on the ground floor of a house.
In the carrer dels Bous, the Pietà was decorated in the street with red and pink carnations. The work lasted so long that lunch became the interval.
In the outer neighbourhood, beneath the school’s covered walkway, the Pistolets were decorated amid jokes and chatter, with carnations in several colours, gladioli and a base of greenery.

Where does the name Pistolets come from?

The Pistolets depict Jesus crowned with thorns, his hands tied, surrounded by figures mocking him. The popular story recorded here tells of brothers known by that nickname: their resemblance to the figures supposedly gave the sculpted group its name. We retain it as a local story, without presenting it as a documented origin.

Before the afternoon arrives

The street torches and countless small details still have to be made ready. During Maundy Thursday afternoon, the manages will collect the statues; then comes the great night. To follow the whole day, see the day-by-day guide and the programme for each edition.