I am from Spain and I am really disappointed with your knowledge about culture. People is giving opinion without knowing the situation so it makes us look like fool people. LOOK FOR INFORMATION!

#99...who's the freak here? you or people giving their opinion? guess my answer....by getting somebody's opinion, even rude or stupid , you have a chance to improve your knowledge, to see mistakes maybe, to realise that you've been fooled, or to strenghten your conviction... that's one of the reasons I like this site, not only for the pictures, but for the various comments as well. I didn't know about the Christ's atonement issue for instance. Thanks for these opinions. I bet you're a US right wing republican?

Why can't people just respect?
I'm from Spain and I've been passing some days with my family in a little village in Andalucia watching processions (pasos). I'm not religious at all, but I stay respectful because I realize how big and important this cultural party is for lots of people. Respect and do not generalize.

In Spain most christians just participate as spectators of this beliver´s carnival. Others (not christians) joins the crowds just because its a nice show. There are a lot of reasons. Also the 99% people we would see any kind of flagelation as "very freak", and I dont think any religion has to be painful for anyone. That wouldnt be religion, would be ignorance.

Wow, enough with the hoods! These pictures make it seem like hooded penitents are the most common part of Holy Week, but that's far from true.

"We must respect the other person's religion, but only in the same way, and to the same extent, that we respect his belief that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart."

--H. L. Mencken

Feel for yourself, come to any village in Andalousia (Spain), most of the time people live it as a party and celebration, it's a tradition here, sacred music, saetas, the silence in the nigth pasos,,, the spiritualism, it's worth to live it if you ara catholic.

#Jeremy, nothing to do with opus dei!
#VivaPucela, are you nuts? I think you should give up this arrogance.
I'm Spanish and I admit that there's something moving in these parades whether if you are catholic or not. But, I disagree with all kind of self-punishment and conspicuosly fanatic attitude masked under the name of religion.

La folie ne connait pas de frontière !
Souffrez en vain peuple corrompu ..
Cette névrose expérimentale à l'échelle de l'humanité doit prendre fin.
L'heure de l'émancipation a sonné.

I agree with #33. I was born into and raised christian and I've never seen or heard about any of these "christian" rituals - the above pictures seem to depict a different belief system. Just makes you think though - In the American media, can you think of any religious groups that get bad "press?" Should we assume all (name of any religion) are just as they are portrayed by western media? Makes you really think, thats for certain.

Saying the above is an accurate representation of "Holy week" for christians around the world simply is not an accurate statement. I'm sure its accurate for those in the images above but it certain is an unknown world to a lot of christians viewing these images on the big picture.

Thank you to #66, 91, and 100 - I totally agree; these photos are not at all representative of the ways millions of Christians observe Holy Week worldwide. I used to eagerly anticipate new posts on this website, but I am consumed by nausea after this post - if such a skewed journalistic perspective exists in other posts, this site is not a place from which I want to learn about the world.

It isn't Opus Dei.
They are normal people.
Inside this "capirotes" they looks like KKK, but they are like you.
In the Semana Santa (Holy Week), they express somethig that they "forgive" express during the rest of year.
In Spain there are many atheist people too, like everywhere, i'm one of them.

sorry for my english expression.

@sick, (post 136) - there are over 1 billion catholics in the world - just because what you see above doesn't match your personal experience, you see it as skewed and it causes you "nausea"? Do you claim that these images are false? Does this article claim to be about ALL christians? No - read the text at the top: "Collected here are a small sample of photographs from Holy Week observances around the world."

Honestly, so many people come onto this blog and think that a handful of photos from a particular event is supposed to be "everything about this event".

I can't help but notice that most of the nasty, incendiary comments are coming from the anti-religion side here.

I don't understand why they feel the need to express their "superiority" over religious people in such a way. I think the fact that all of you are having a debate over such lofty material on an internet message board proves how equal we all really are, since both sides are willing to degrade themselves in such a matter. Religion or no religion, what's the difference? People should be judged by what they do, not what they believe.

Nice pictures, anyway.

Only through religion do societies to accept people flagellating and nailing themselves, or nailing others, to wood.

In any other context, these people would be seen as mentally ill and probably hospitalized.

For all those respecting religion:

Why not save your respect for something worth respecting?

I call myself a devoted Christian, but there's noting in these pictures portraying my faith. It is as foreign to me as a series of pictures of a muslim holy week. I choose to follow what the Bible teaches, not traditions.

Nice to see a picture (#27) from my country. Happy Easter!

The Pictures are beautiful, but lets not try to analyse each of them.All of use see them differently through our own eyes.I am a Catholic, but dont like to follow very much of the rituals.I feel the whole purpose of Easter and Being a catholic is to try to be a better human being.We cant really judge the other person.If we look deeply inside us,im sure we will see a lot of flaws.While i would say some of the pictures could be disturbing.The photographer has taken them in good faith and it shows us that there is a lot we havent seen and we dont know about.Most of us here im sure go to church to pray...But we all know God is Everywhere.So lets all have our own openion about what we see.Lets show some respect to the way it is celebrated in other countries.

@140

''there are over 1 billion catholics in the world''

That is not a valid argument. There are over a billon muslims and a billion hundus too... Their number does not ''confirm'' anything nor does it make anyone else wrong for not believing it.

Don't forget, Britney Spears sold 30 million albums... numbers are irrevelant.

It seems to me that the people doing these acts of self harm are blending their 'pre-conversion' beliefs with Christianity as they clearly do not understand what salvation means.

I think the captions have been poorly written too, not enough background fact.

If these same people were doing the same actions in the name of anything except religion, they would be called crazy and most likely forced into a psychiatric hospital to receive help.

But dress it up in religion and it's marvelous and something to be respected? Please.

Look at the age of some of the children in those pictures. Do they have a full understanding of "their" religion and all the alternatives? No. They've been brainwashed into it.

To each his own ... we are not asked to carry out extreme forms of penitence ... but please respect those who choose to do so ... it is a personal choice. Personally I look up to people who choose to go beyond reading or studying scripture, and actually decide to take action (and here they do so in probably the only way they know how).

This blog allows us to learn more about the world ... hopefully this helps open our minds and allow us to foster better understanding of other cultures. I think that once you truly and deeply understand a tradition or a culture as a whole, things would actually make real sense -- so enough of the criticism and just embrace the richness of it all.

Hello, im from Taxco and its nice to see your pictures.
Just one thing:
here, we dont carry a bundle of cactus;
we carry the blackberry bush whit thorns;
Its between 12 and 16 dozens of Rods.
Greetings and thanks for visit Taxco

I am a Catholic Christian in the US, and I have never heard of traditions such as these very disturbing rituals. I realize these are in Spain, Mexico, Philipines, S. America, etc., and we need to be tolerant of all beliefs. However, for an American newspaper site to use these kinds of pix for Easter is just not right. Catholicism here and most other places in the world do not practice penitence rituals. It gives people who know nothing about the Catholic faith a very warped belief about Catholic Christians. One more reason to be prejudiced against the Catholic faith. Prejudice against Catholicism is one of the last prejudices allowed in this country. One of my favorite sites has just done us a great disservice.

Some disturbing photos in this set... especially the crucifixion one.

Easter is not solely a catholic celebration. The photographer is biased and limited in his research of a broader spectrum of the celebration. Other Christians celebrate the holy week differently ie. pentecostals, apostolics, baptists... we don't go on pilgrimages and flagellate ourselves thinking that would absolve our sins. We have no power of our own to do anything to absolve ourselves because we are not pure to begin with, hence Jesus' death... What about the jews who celebrate passover? No pics of that either?

"Crazy. Deluded. You've got to feel sorry for these poor people indoctrinated and subjugated to beliefs that result in the sort of actions shown in #17 and #31. Improvements in the quality of education is the only solution.
Posted by Andy April 10, 09 12:54 "
Yea! not unlike the apotheosis and worshipping of scums like _____( fill in any current celebrities name) by "educated Americans" above the reach of religious "subjugation".

What an oddball way to look at Easter. Ya really had to seek out the oddest of the odd, eh? Poor reflection on the faith- a Jerry Springerish photo essay.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ro 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Ro 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
Ga 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;

This is religulous...

I must admit that I was unaware of the proliferation of these hooded "brotherhood" processions. Although I am certain these traditions pre-date the existance of the Ku Klux Klan by many hundreds of years, as an African American, I still find these images disturbing.

Religon is a very sensitive issue.. God help us. all religon have one issue,, worshipe God and do good thing for life..

Religion is a fairytale for adults, but a very useful fairytale. (RP)
Religion is the illusion of a desire. (Freud)
Religion is nothing else but the expression of the inability to understand the coherence of things. (RP)

The photo's are again very good!

@160:
All religions do have one main issue (even the ones practiced by tribes):

Its: "How the f*ck can I make me live forever".

Its actually a pretty egoistic issue.
Christians managed it to not make it look utterly egoistic by saying: "you'll have an eternal life when you help others"

Well I tell you to do good things without fearing hell or heaven, because they both are as real as santa Claus.

Is this really the catholic Easter?Why they wear all those hoods and cover their faces?They look more like traitors belonging in heresy.I don't believe that's the truth.And what about Christians?We also have our Easter and it doesn't look like Halloween.

I agree with the rest of the people here. The photos are really great, but more photos were necessary with a wider perspective of Easter around the world and especially from the Easter Orthodox Church. Catholics, L. America, Spain and Italy are not the only Christians on this planet. The Eastern Orthodox Church is as old and with a much more genuine mysticism, especially in Greece, Russia, Middle East and Jerusalem.

Ι hope that you will upload some pictures of the Orthodox Eastern next week :) I am not a religious person, but if one compares the rituals, I find the Orthodox ones much more religious.

Frist time i'm seeing like this " Christians " normaly indian culture they do
some things like this to give back the respects!! anyway wonderfull picture!!

I'm spaniard and atheist, and yes, this is the hell for me XD

These photos aren't representative, the spanish youth is not religious, the churches are empty every sunday, tradition is strong but the spanish catolic cult is a elders club.

Sorry for my english :)

What seems the most interesting is how diferent the flavours of Catholicism are between the Conquerors (Spanish et.al.) and the Conquered (Latin America, Philipines et.al.). Andalucia/Rome sees Holy Week as a celebration (of sorts) whereas elsewhere its seen as a ritual involving pain and suffering. It really amazes me to see the "Flavour" of catholicism Spanish preists came to teach natives of the conquered lands... and that this "means to salvation" by way of flagelation still prevails.

Que tonterías se dicen aquí, en España, en Andalucía y como Sevillana, en mi tierra, se respeta a todos, los nazarenos no son ricos empresarios, puede ser cualquiera, respetamos todas las creencias, invitamos a todos a que participen, si son católicos con fe, si no lo son, pueden disfrutar de las esculturas, de los costaleros que las llevan, de la gente, no hay fanatismo, no hay mas que cultura, nuestra cultura, luz, olores, sabores, quien no lo haya visto, que no opine, yo no opino de lo que no conozco y eso se llama respeto. Han sacado las cosas de quicio y no lo pongo en inglés porque no me da la gana. Un besote a todos.

Dear Jason (nº 77). I´m Dutch, but have been living in Córdoba (southern Spain) for many many years and since 1993 I´ve actively been involved in one of these processions. I am in fact bearer of "La Virgen de la Piedad". I can tell you that the vast mayority of participants partake in these processions for cultural reasons an not so much for religious reasons. These procesions began a long long time ago to explain the Easter story to the analphabetic. That's why the first procession is about the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem and the last one is about the resurrection. The people have faces covered because penitence is something that should be done in private.

Más de la cuarta parte corresponde a la Semana Santa de Sevilla.
Santa Genoveva y San Gonzalo son del Lunes Santo.
Igual que El Museo

La primera de la cofradía de "Gitanos" que sale el Lunes Santo, y la segunda de Fusionadas, que sale el Miércoles Santo, ambas de Málaga

Hello. I am a Spaniard. I am including a link to Wikipedia with information about picture #16: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verges_(Espa%C3%B1a)
For the ones not understanding spanish, I am translating partially the section dedicated to it:
"The Verges Procession is held every Holly Thursday, including the famous Death Dance...preserved from Medieval Ages...From 2009 it is being directed by the singer-songwriter Lluis Llach (famous catalan spaniard artist)"
Religion, tradition, culture, business? This helds for most of the pictures.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ and I found these photos disturbing. I couldn't help but think of the KKK when looking at all the hooded people. (And I can't help but wonder if that sort of connection is what the editor of this site was aiming for.) I cringe when I see people beating themselves and allowing themselves to be crucified in order to gain some sense of unity with Christ. Jesus died in our place so that we wouldn't have to spend eternity apart from God's presence; not so that we would voluntarily reenact his suffering in order to show others how devoted we are. May God help us all.

This is one of the more breathtaking batches of photos I've seen here. Incredible, mystifying, scary...

Very beautiful photos.
I'm spanish, from Malaga, one of the citys with more photos in the gallery, and I'm not religious but... Holy Week is precious, I love it. And is much more than the photos shows. All the most amazing things are ignored in the gallery, but I understand there are not enough place for all. And Holy Week it's not only beautiful to see, as the photos shows, it's beautiful to heard and to smell whith it's incredibly music and it's smell of inciense and wax. And the night processions are the best of all.

April #173 I have to agree with you. These pictures seem more oriented to causeing a disturbing reaction in the viewers than anything else and I too belive the editors were trying to do just that. I would love to see the pictures of the American children dressed in their new cloths and attending worship services, or maybe a picture of a believer praying at the alter. How about the people who donate their time at the homeless missions on these holidays. There are so many real and true images that could be placed here that do not inspire concern or disgust. Images that are even more a part of the true religious experience of coming to be thankful to God for the sacrifice he made for us. It has become unpopular in modern society to be a christain and the mainstream media only helps to re-enforce negative stereotypes instead of any positive actions performed by the church. I logged into ABCnews.com a few weeks back when they were doing a Heaven VS Hell story and all the comments were anti God and antogonistic towards those who choose to believe in God, but when I posted a non-antogonistic but positive God comment it was removed. I feel saddened by this but it is exactly what the Bible told us to expect so I am not surprized.

Don’t believe everything you think

son imagenes que muestran devocion interesanteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It's incredible how people are becoming increasingly intolerant towards people of faith.

BTW, Easter week in Orthodox Christianity is later, this week, we have different calendars.

Also, so many sad people on these pictures. In Russia it's more of a happy celebration of Christ's resurrection.
And also Easter is considered to be more important day than Christmas in Orthodox tradition.

Do you want more information about all of those pictures. Google: "the great controversy" is a public domain book. Available in many languages .. . Open your eyes and learn . . .

Me siento muy honrada y muy emocionada de ver que se ha publicado una foto de mi bello pais El Salvador, todas me parecen excelentes tomas, muy buena forma de expresar lo que es la semana santa

Soy americana y me encanta los fotos de Semana Santa. Quiero visitar o vivir con mi familia espanol por un otro semestre.

Los fotos son preciosos.

HE IS RISEN!!! and He loves you, if you accept his love in your hard you will experimented the greatest love of God in your life, and you will not be the same...

Call him, He is near and he hears you every time and every where.

@ HR Post 88

Wow. What a senseless comment. You sir, are an ignorant nationalist.
I might as well say that because of your comment that all european's are gutless politically correct sheep, but I know that isnt true because what I know of europeans is based on actual people, not some internet message board with the lowest common factor and no accountability.

I would also say take your gross generalizations and nationalism elswhere, but the world is too small now, and there is nowhere it would belong.

"He made us in his image and we have returned the favor!" Voltaire? If "he-she-it-them-the force" enjoys the blood it is no wonder we have wars. Ugly! Jerry of WI.

Why are there no pictures of veneration of the cross on good friday? I feel like that is the most sad day of holy week in my church--it feels like Jesus actually died that day and we are at a funeral.

Roman Catholocism sure is different around the world!
I'm confused by many of these pictures. I wish each religion was clearly stated. Also, the flogging and nailing to the cross is completely unnecessary, and I wish my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters would not do that...it makes the rest of us look horrifying.

@ 143. For all those respecting religion:
Why not save your respect for something worth respecting? ---- what is worth respecting? do you know what respect means? Do you ever run out of respect?

Hi,
I think we shouldn't forget that people in these pictures are free to be there, no one has bind them to penance. Maybe they suffer, but they do not harm anyone.
Some one can say: "what about children?" It's not fair to speak about children washed brains. Every one educates their children on their own beliefs. At least in Spain, no tradition is unsafe for children.
Although I'm Spanish -from Catalonia, northen-east-, I do not deeply understand Andalusian Holy Week, their passion, their way of showing their faith, etc. but I simply try to respect them and I try to go there to enjoy the Holy Week with them
every few years!
The similarity between the penitents dress -capirote- and the kkk dress is really unpleasant, but it has nothing to do. Actually, some Jesus statues shown during the Holly Week represents a gipsy Jesus. Nothing to do with racism.

Thank your for the pics.

Pictures 4, 7, 17, 22, 31: all morbid and masochistic. How people can feel ok with their religion at the sight of these crazy traditions!

@93

The bible says a lot of things, especially the old testament....

Great photos though!

And Jesus said to his 12 apostles as he was nailed to the cross...."dont touch my easter eggs, i'll be back on Monday".

I love to make lite of such a thing that has little caloriffic value to me in anyway shape or form.

To Ttu Ttu, #163, and all the others who asked (1) if this is what Catholics do and (2) what about we Christians. No, it is not what Catholics do; and Catholics ARE Christians. I think this batch of photos did much more harm than good. Harm to Catholics, harm to the beautiful Holy Week and the Triduum, harm to all believers in Jesus Christ, our Messiah, and harm to nonbelievers--who now see even more reason not to believe in Jesus and Christianity. I am so very disappointed in The Big Picture, one of my very favorite websites.

The pictures are interesting, but it seems to me that they present a very selective view of the Holy Week celebrations, with most of the focus on some curios folk traditions. While they are certainly worth showing, they do not really illustrate the real essence of the Holy Week for Christians (including catholics). Bear this in mind while watching them: they are mostly folk customs associated with Easter and not part of the Easter celebrations.
I would be nice to have a wider variety of pictures, too much focus on folk and Spain IMHO, only one picture from Vatican?

I was disappointed (at first) that no pictures from my country, Guatemala, were included, since we have the most beautiful processions and traditions from the whole Latin America. Holy Week for us is a time of reflection, reparation and devotion to conmemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, something that the majority of people in this blog would probably criticize due to ignorance or simple lack of respect for other countries' traditions. The hatred and disrespect in some people's comments can only be a reflection of their broken hearts and empty lives. When Jesus said on the cross: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do..." He was not referring only to those who crucified Him, but to all those that would continue to deny Him and crucify Him throughout the ages. May God have mercy on His world.

#16: Verges is not SPAIN, is CATALUNYA.

I am very disappointed with this set. I don't think this is a fair or all-encompassing view of the Easter holiday. As an American Roman Catholic, Easter is a holiday full of celebration, song and family togetherness, not self-inflicted torture and freaky costumes. Holy week is a solemn observation of Christ's pain and suffering, not a time for mindless displays of fanaticism. Next time please try to show a more balanced set of photos.

It's not only for religious people, I don't believe in any kind of gods, but I take part of the Holy Week, I'm member of a brotherhood in Murcia, because it is a family tradition.

The comment by Joan (#197) is a vandalism

Picture #11 has something wrong is not cactus, is blackberry branches, I was there and is something hard to see

"If there IS a God, then why did he make me an atheist?"
- Ricky Gervais

Most of the things depicted here have nothing to do whatsoever with Christianity proper. I think they are actually quite creepy and non-Christian. They reflect the failure of a work-righteous system to understand the unique feature of Christianity, which is salvation by grace. Everything necessary for the atonement of our sins was accomplished at the Cross by Jesus Christ. All we have to do is to repent (turn) from our sins and put our faith in Jesus and His work (holy living will then follow out of a changed heart and an attitude of gratefulness). Unfortunately, this sounds too easy for many people, and it would also eliminate large parts of the "middle-man" layer of the church.

I lived in the south of Spain (Granada) a few years ago and had the good fortune of being able to witness these processions firsthand. They are indeed fascinating, beautiful, and quick to leave an impression.

As an atheist, I also fail to make a logical connection between some of these practices and a close relationship with God, but that does not mean that the connection is not there. I see the processions as a very public display of a very private process- namely, the acceptance of and atonement for personal wrongdoing. Who am I (or any of you, for that matter) to judge someone else's relationship with his/her God(s)?

Just

I think a lot of the negative commentary here is based on a lack of understanding

I want to suggest you my photogallery of the Holy Week in my town, Pietraperzia (Sicily, Italy). On Friday people carry a Cros by shoulders and other people hold some withe bands. See my photo on my blog, here:
http://luigisblog.splinder.com/post/20312917/Venerd%C3%AC+Santo+a+Pietraperzia

Just my point of view... I am a Christian and was always raised to think that just because we're right we should tell everyone else they're wrong. Now I realize that the US is a free country. The whole point being "free". Free to Muslims, Christians, Catholics, etc. So keep to your religion, believe what you believe, but keep your comments about others religions to yourself. Happy Easter!

Todas as pessoas deveriam ter uma religião para se apegar , agora fanatismo não deveria existir nunca ...pode ser crença mas o proprio humano se autoflagelar isso sim deveria ser pecado.. Deus nos deu o corpo para cuidar - amar e não para destruir.
Uma pena ...

The Holy Week is specially beautiful in Guatemala C.A. For some amazing pictures of it go to the following links www.radioestrella.net and www.semanasantaenlinea.com hope you enjoy them and come to my country next year. Rgds. Ng

I am from Spain too. I was born in a small city (Zamora) where there is a long and deep tradition about holy week celebrations.

Despite I have been educated in a catholic enviroment, I don´t feel catholic at all. However I respect these kind of cellebrations (and I like it).

As you can check (in the photos) you will not find pain or flagelation at Spanish holy week cellebrations. I agree that only insane cristians not very civilizated could do those things...

Pain, flagellations, death penalty... are things from the past and only poor educated people can defend it.

21 ir's my school.... this is lovely !!!

Hi from Madrid. First of all, I'd like to say
that I'm not catholic, I am an atheist.

I agree with this commentary:
"I think a lot of the negative commentary
here is based on a lack of understanding"

The pictures from Filipinas have nothing to do
with the pictures from Spain. In Spain, the Holly
Week is a tradition, and there is not more "pain
and punishment" than in a american football match
or a boxing fight. In fact, these celebrations are
mixed with some kind of parties in some cities.

And don't be fooled by the suits and the masks.
They have nothing to do with racism or political
issues.

Do I like or enjoy it? No, but I respect it.
If some people want to take a ride with a
figure, dress spooky clothes and share their
feelings, it is OK with me.

I respect other's celebrations, no matter if it's the
holly week or the gay pride parade, just as I want
mine to be respected.

I meant HOLY, not HOLLY :)

Only genuine faith can help one to understand and appreciateall the Holy Week pictures. Without faith, all is nonsense.

Mucha calidad en la mayoria de las fotos. Gracias

Photo 22: This is not Oviedo, but Málaga. The 'Cristo de la Buena Muerte' is carried by Spanish Legionnaires.

First of all, great pictures. A little skewed to the sensationalist, but great anyhow.

A catholic by birth, non-practicing by choice, I find it rather interesting that many of the commenters have chosen to confuse the rituals of a very small section of catholics with the general practice of the whole, and also to confuse christians with catholics.

All pictures depict catholics, but apart from the images from Spain, they show mainly catholics from countries conquered by Spain within XV and XVII centuries, and thus exposed to a very strict and narrow-minded form of Catholicism, characterized by suffering (both physical and/or psychological) as the only way to atone for sin. That was the religion forced into the conquered peoples by the conquistadores, and the catholic church being so tradition minded, has remained almost without change to this date, especially in countries far from Rome. It is well known that when far from the power center, the minions tend to be more Pope-ist than the Pope, so traditions remain in full force longer.

Other than that, the practitioners of the rituals shown inflict pain only on themselves, by choice (and perhaps induced by guilt). Sometimes, they barter the pain they suffer upon the expected benefit of a “miracle” or favor they ask from God, the greater the favor the greater the pain. This is especially true in Latin America.

As for the presence of children in the rituals, consider that every parent teaches his own children into the particular agenda of their own faith (or lack of it), so it’s no wonder they have to participate, willingly or otherwise.

But in numerous predominantly catholic countries Holy Week is seen as a vacation, a time for enjoying life no matter what, perhaps in celebration of the resurrection… of nice weather.

Hi,

I'm an atheïst, a realist and an esthaeticist (if that's a word) first means i don't believe in any god. Second means I understand and accept that others do. The last means: If it looks cool,enjoi it! I can truely appreciate this kind of flaunting and putting up a show. Thanks!

all the religions are the add of all the drugs of the world.- Before We said: Religion
is the opium of the people.- Now, is the worst adicction.-

Todas las religiones son la suma de todas las drogas del mundo.- Antes decia
mos: la religion es el opio de los pueblos.- ahora, es la peor adicción.-

Being a catholic is the only thing I cant barter for something in this world. Traditions are mixed up with religion especially here in the Philippines. If you see people flegellating themselves or crossifying themselves, it is hteir own way of showing that they are sorry for their sins. If they choose to display those in public is their choice. It would not matter to me or to any of us what we see, what matters most is how serious and sincere you are as a penitent.
It is not the act that God will see, but it is the heart that longs for His forgiveness and pity.

I don't give a damn about religion, and picture 26 is a piece of art.

Congratulations, this is why I always came here, to watch amazing pictures.

Greetings from Venezuela ;)

Hizo falta la Semana Santa Guatemalteca

The pictures are beautiful. Great photography. As far as the subject matter... everything is filtered. All media is filtered and edited. Take it at face value and move on. We are all different and have our own opinion.

Fotografias impresionantes, muy buen fotografo

The guy getting his hands nailed to the wood is a complete idiot. Even if it is through tradition. Anyone in their right mind can see that this is a wrong thing to do, and it wouldn't surprise me if this guy has done some permanent damage to his hands. NO celebration or rememberance should involve someone being encouraged to do something so hanus and sick

Great photos and I'm fascinated! Most Spanish speaking countries are devout catholics and have beautiful rituals to show there devotion in god. As for the Christians who study only the bible you know the other set of christians whom do not share the catholic beliefs or need of rituals etc. Its funny that they see nothing wrong with speaking in tongues or holding snakes etc. ( i don't get those extreme bible beaters ) but hey I respect them!

If the penitents are teased in these comments, they are lucky i will say..
Then they are not only getting a chance to suffer on body like Jesus but they are also getting a chance to get teased like Jesus..
I feel that now their sufferings are complete with these teasings..
And i hope that this comment by me acts as Veronica's Veil which wiped Jesus's face during His passion..

I want to like, other big pictures of Jesus.