'Semana Santa' or Holy Week in Spain is not to be missed. In Granada, people take their Holy Week very seriously, and the Granada processions are quite spectacular. If you've never seen a Holy Week procession before, it can be quite breath-taking. Each hermandad (literally "brotherhood") has their own procession and is understandably extremely proud of their figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Everyone is involved and a lot of time and effort is spent making the figures as beautiful as possible.
During the processions, the floats ("pasos") with the figures are carried on the shoulders of the "costaleros" (traditionally men and boys), and are followed by processions of "nazarenos" in long, hooded gowns, the penitents (carrying figures of the cross on their shoulders), and women and girls dressed in black traditional Spanish costumes carrying candles and crosses. They are accompanied by brass bands playing soulful marching tunes which mark the step that the carriers must follow.
For a full list of the processions - times and itineraries (in Spanish) click here
And remember, the public holidays in Spain are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, so shops will be shut then. Easter Monday however is not a holiday and schools return on the Monday, so it is back to business as usual.