When in Spain during Semana Santa (Holy Week), you’ll likely see hooded figures in flowing robes moving solemnly through the streets. If it catches you off guard, you're not alone. But here’s what you need to know. 👇 🕯️ These individuals are called nazarenos, members of religious brotherhoods (hermandades or cofradías), who walk in silence—or sometimes to the sound of a brass band—during Holy Week processions. But first: what is Semana Santa? 📿 Semana Santa is the week leading up to Easter Su

Why These Men Are Blindfolded for 14 Hours Every year during Holy Week in Spain, a group of men known as costaleros take part in one of the most intense religious traditions—the paso procession. They carry massive wooden floats, called pasos, that can weigh up to 13,000 pounds (about 5.9 metric tons). These floats are adorned with sacred statues and religious scenes, and are carried through the streets for hours. What makes this more astonishing is that the costaleros do it blindfolded, without