While we were in Sevilla, the Festival of Semana Santa (Holy Week) was going on. Being from America, I wondered what had drawn all the KKK members to Spain while I was on vacation. It wasn't that group at all but Catholic penitents of various parishes donned in their particular colors in a native costume. The worshipers all carry candles. But rivalry between villages tends to transcend the observance so Diputados are needed to keep peace. They are identifiable by their different arrangement of color and that they carry staffs. I purchased this 2 inch plastic souvenir from that visit. Maybe Spanishliz or szabs can verify or correct that blah blah blah?
Sorry Mehaul that I didnt see this posting before. Your description of Semana Santa (Easter) is spot on, an even bigger rivalry occurs between the cities of Sevilla and Malaga, as they both proclaim to have the biggest and the best processions in Spain. Easter processions take place for eight consecutive days, and on average there are about 10 brotherhoods who parade each day, each procession takes about 7 to 9 hours in which the penitents walk behind the throne, (the thrones are the images of Christ and the Virgin Mary), each throne weighs several hundred kilos, and is carried by a group of men who bare the weight on their shoulders. Processions normally start at dusk and some are still out on the streets at 6am, needless to say the centre of the cities are closed, and virtually everything stops in Spain during Easter, as every single town no matter how big or small will have some kind of processions throughout the week.
I must say that one of my favourite themes of photography is Semana Santa.
Here is a group of real penitents, and not a little plastic one.
