Holy Week procession

In a nutshell

A Holy Week procession is a public ritual march of clergy and penitents which takes place during Holy Week in Christian countries, especially those with a Catholic culture. Various images of the saints, especially the Virgin Mary, and most importantly the image of the crucified Christ are carried aloft by foot on shoulder-borne pasos (or on wheeled carrozas in the Philippines) as an act of penance; acts of mortification are carried out; traditional Christian hymns and chants are sung (except during the silent processions of Good Friday). In many confraternities of penitents, the faces of the members are covered by elaborate hoods, such as the capirote, as a way of hiding one's identity in order to not ostentatiously draw attention to oneself while performing penance. Crosses, and biers holding Catholic holy images surrounded with flowers and offerings of candles, are carried usually from one parish church to another led by the clergy, monastic orders, or heads of the penitential orders.

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Holy Week processions

Palm Sunday: The day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
Holy Thursday: The day when Jesus shared the Last Supper with His Apostles, followed by the beginning of his Passion.
Good Friday: Jesus' crucifixion, performed in 14 stations.
Holy Saturday: Loneliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the day that Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb.
Easter Sunday: The resurrection of the Christ.

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Holy Week processions

Local customs

Argentina

Colombia

Corsica

Guatemala

Honduras

Italy

Malta

Mexico

Peru

Philippines

Portugal

Spain

Venezuela

Noted sculptors of Holy Week pasos

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