MS white-hooded penitent "Ploao" beating bare back with swatch of whipcord.



The pieaos beating selves before statue of virgin carried through village street cuts crowd.



Penitent lead away to be healed with Holy Water.



MS's and CH's of bare backs taking beating bear feet



Cuts onlookers



State Christ up Path to Hill Top Church.



Cloaked penitent helped up hill.



Black veiled women penitents fallow statue of virgin - bare feet, dragging chains from ankles.



Virgin into church - crowd follow.



Only in this village in North Spain do penitents still beat themselves before statue of virgin carried out in Easter procession.



Rough cord (whipcord?) causes flesh on back to become raw red - sometimes drawing blood. penitents or "Picaos" - after whipping selves for 10-20 minutes as they walk bare foot through streets - are lead to church at Top of Hill to be washed with Holy Water. Due journey form and shipping of drumming cover in South Spain - I arrive late here and had no time record wild sound -maybe sound of last year's cover will do; will message production number if have record.




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