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According to ancient Jewish rituals, Passover (which in Hebrew designates "passage") commemorates the Jews’ exodus from Egypt and was celebrated on the 14th day after the spring equinox, with a meal constituted by unleavened bread. Jesus was condemned after a paschal dinner, and for this reason the catholic church adopted the Jewish festivity, but altered its meaning -- which was transformed into the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of the Easter celebrations were set in the fourth century in the Council of Nicea.

The lithurgical calendar determines that Easter will be preceded by Lent and that the week prior to Easter Sunday will be holy, including a series of religious ceremonies that evoke the Passion of Christ. The word "passion" refers to the torments experienced by Jesus Christ from his imprisonment until his crucifixion. His trajectory while carrying the cross, from the Roman tribunal of Pontius Pilate that condemned him, is known as the holy way or “painful way”.

The holy week celebrations include Palm Sunday (one week before Easter Sunday), Maun Thursday (the day of condemnation and crucifixion), Good Friday (the day on which the cross was deposited and the burial), Holy Saturday (ascension to heaven) and Easter Sunday (resurrection of Christ).

In Portugal, during these days, many centuries-old traditions are organised which do not form part of the Roman Missal, such as the processions of the Lord Ecce Homo, burial of the Lord and the resurrection. Although the Easter festivities are held throughout the country, two particularly emblematic events are the solemn processions of holy week in Braga and holy week in Castelo de Vide due to their unique regional characteristics. The former displays rigorous observance of Christian ritual, while the other is of Christian expression significantly influenced by Jewish culture.