they are the haunting, hooded figures, who walk the streets of spain's towns and villages during the last week of lent and these penitents, in their white robes and heavy hoods, were no different as they took part in the annual commemoration of the passion of jesus christ, a mesmerising week long celebration throughout the country in zamora, in the region of castile and leon, penitents from 'cristo de la buena muerte' or 'good dead christ' brotherhood carry a jesus christ figure as they take part in a haunting night time procession scroll down for video  the 'cristo de la buena muerte' brotherhood carries a depiction of the crucifixion of jesus christ during a procession in zamora, spain  during the emotional festival, penitents from several religious brotherhoods take part in processions, carrying life size effigies of jesus christ and the virgin mary through cobblestone city streets, accompanied by dramatic drum beats and mournful music also known as semana santa, during the week long celebrations, participants wear gowns and conical hoods   a tradition that was meant to maintain their anonymity   during their hauntingly beautiful penance processions although the most visited city during the catholic celebration is seville, in andalucia, zamora, in the north west of the country, is also well known for its 16 religious brotherhoods and fraternities in 1986, holy week in zamora was declared a tourist interest of spain and visitors continue to descend on the city in the lead up to easter, particularly to line the streets to view the scheduled processions the fraternities weave their way through the city streets from early morning until late into the night the 'good dead christ' brotherhood take part in one of hundreds of easter holy week processions on tuesday, march 31  brothers from the 'cristo de la buena muerte' fraternity turn off their torches as they walk barefoot through the streets of zamora  visitors and locals watch from balconies as the procession weaves its way through the cobblestone streets  clad in heavy robes, the penitents carry large effigies of jesus christ and the virgin mary as mournful music sounds behind them  each confradia (or religious brotherhood) is represented by different coloured robes and masks, designed to protect anonymity  each confradia (or brotherhood) is represented by different coloured robes and masks in seville, there are more than 50 church brotherhoods, some of which date as far back as the 13th century, while in zamora, some documented references to celebration can be traced back to 1279 the first cofradia founded is believed to be la santa vera cruz or true cross, which dates back to the 14th century, though most brotherhoods as we know them today were created in the 20th century another brotherhood, the 'jesus en su tercera caida' group, lead their children through the streets of zamora on march 30  in zamora, the traditions date back as far as 1279, with the founding of the first cofradia: la santa vera cruz or true cross  in jerez de la frontera, spain, in the southwest of the country, the celebration is in full swing  a penitent holds a girl by the hand while taking part in a holy week procession in jerez de la frontera, spain  the most visited city during the catholic celebration is seville, in andalusia, though other smaller cities are also frequented  hooded penitents from the la paz brotherhood take park in a procession in seville, spain on monday, march 30  while at first glance, the marches may appear sinister, they are a stunning celebration of emotion as brothers make their way to cathedrals  penitents in jerez de la frontera, spain, hold candles as they take part in one of many holy week processions  in maintenance of tradition, many brothers will carry processional candles and may even walk barefoot while wearing their heavy robes though at first glance, the processions may seem sinister, holy week is truly a stunning celebration of pageantry and raw emotion the brothers make their way from parish churches to the cathedral and back again, each bearing their own virgin mary and jesus statues, as well as colourful misterios (depictions of bible scenes) and pasos (floats) holy week, as its known, begins the sunday before easter (known as palm or passion sunday) and continues through to easter sunday
the passion of jesus christ spanish easter holy week catholic
the last week of lent marks the annual commemoration of the passion of jesus christ in many spanish cities . easter holy week begins on the sunday before easter (palm sunday) and continues through to easter sunday . for the festival, penitents from several catholic brotherhoods take part in haunting processions in the city streets 