Dressed in white robes and high pointed hoods , children joined their parents to take part in Easter processions across Spain . The youngsters were among the many hooded 'nazareno ' penitents who gathered for religious ceremonies in Cordoba and Seville in Andalusia , on Sunday . Hundreds of similar events take place throughout Spain during Easter Holy Week - known as Semana Santa . A child pulls up the mask of her high pointed hood during a procession involving 'La Borriquita ' brotherhood in Cordoba , Spain . A family of penitents from the La Paz brotherhood walk to church to take part in a procession in Seville , Spain . Hundreds of similar events take place throughout Spain during Easter Holy Week - known as Semana Santa . Processions in Andalusia begin on Palm Sunday and reach their pinnacle after midnight on Good Friday , a time known as La Madrugada . Many parents enlist their children in the brotherhoods at a very young age because it takes years to move up the ranks and earn a prestigious spot in a procession , such as the coveted position of carrying a great cross at the head . Most processions are at night , and many of those who take part carry long candles to light the way from their parish church to the cathedral and back again . Most processions are at night , and many of those who take part carry long candles to light the way from their parish church to the cathedral and back again . Many parents enlist their children in the brotherhoods at a very young age because it takes years to move up the ranks and earn a prestigious spot in a procession . The penitents cover their faces with hoods in order to repent in public without being identified as part of a tradition dating back hundreds of years . Some walk barefoot or even with shackles . In some of the biggest events , a group of Roman soldiers follows . Seville , the regional capital of Andalusia , hosts some of the biggest processions , dating back to medieval times and organised by brotherhoods , or cofradias , each sporting their own colours . The penitents cover their faces with hoods in order to repent in public without being identified as part of a tradition dating back hundreds of years . Although the hooded outfits worn by worshippers are similar to those used by members of the Klu Klux Klan , the processions have nothing to do with the KKK . Seville , the regional capital of Andalusia , hosts some of the biggest processions , dating back to medieval times and organised by brotherhoods , or cofradias , each sporting their own colours . Although the hooded outfits worn by worshippers are similar to those used by members of the Klu Klux Klan , the processions have nothing to do with the KKK .
Youngsters take part in centuries-old religious ceremonies across Spain . The ceremony is called the 'Corpus Christi' and it involves a procession of young people dressed as priests carrying crucifixes on their shoulders while chanting prayers to Jesus Christ at the top of their lungs. Nazareno ' penitents use hoods to repent in public without being identified .