Each of the churches in Antigua seems to organise a procession - when the image of Christ is slowly carried around the streets by willing volunteers (in fact they pay to be involved). The images are huge and heavy- this one from the the church of San Francisco took 30 men on each side to carry it, and the carriers swap over after a block or so. Over a 1000 people are involved in each procession. This procession also included a smaller image of Mary, carried by women (some of them wearing stilletos -walking over cobbled streets - and clutching their handbags!) The processions are really important for Catholics, but in Antigua the tradition (and 'show') has probably overtaken the religious or spiritual meaning that only a few still take from it.
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