1.
GV TAXCO
0.05

2.
TGV PROCESSION
0.08

3.
SV REPENTANTS CARRY LARGE BUNDLES OF THORNY STICKS
0.15

4.
SCU BUNDLE BEING CARRIED
0.22

5.
SCU REPENTANT WEARING HEAD MASK
0.28

6.
SV BARE FEET ON COBBLED ROAD
0.31

7.
LV & GV CHRIST STATUE BEING CARRIED BY CROWD (2 SHOTS)
0.38

8.
CU PROCESSION PAST
0.46

9.
SCU MEN CARRYING STATUE
0.52

10.
SCU STATUE
0.58

11.
TGV PROCESSION
1.01

12.
CU LARGE CANDLE BEING CARRIED
1.04

13.
SV REPENTANTS WHIPPING THEMSELVES WITH ROPE (3 SHOTS)
1.18

14.
SV WOMEN IN BLACK WALK CROUCHED & HOLDING CANDLES
1.23

15.
CU CHAINS ON WOMEN'S FEET
1.28

16.
TV PROCESSION CONTINUES (2 SHOTS)
1.38



Initials JDR/VS/MR/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN THE ANCIENT MEXICAN CITY OF TAXCO, THE EASTER FESTIVAL IS MARKED BY MYSTICAL RITES AND FLAGELLATION AS THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN RECALL THE SUFFERING OF JESUS CHRIST NEARLY 2,000 YEARS AGO. THERE'S EVEN A SYMBOLIC BURNING OF JUDAS, GENERALLY LEFT TO THE CHILDREN.

TAXCO'S HISTORY GOES BACK TO THE DAYS BEFORE THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORES. IT'S SILVER MINES AND SILVER HANDCRAFTS HAVE BROUGHT IT FAME. BUT EVERY YEAR THE PEOPLE OF TAXCO HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL WAY OF OBSERVING HOLY WEEK. THE CLIMAX COMES ON GOOD FRIDAY, WHEN THERE'S A LONG PROCESSION ALONG THE NARROW, STEEP COBBLED STREETS. A STATUE OF CHRIST WEIGHING MORE THAN 3,000 POUNDS (1350 KILLOGRAMMES) IS CARRIED BY 24 MEN.

BEFORE THE STATUE WALK SOME OF THE MEN WEARING BLACK MASKS. THEY CARRY HEAVY BUNDLES OF STICKS ON THEIR SHOULDERS. THE STICKS COME FROM A PLANT CALLED "THE THORNS OF CHRIST" AND THEIR THORNS DIG INTO THE FLESH OF THE MEN CARRYING THEM. THE BUNDLES WEIGH ABOUT 80 POUNDS (36 KILLOGRAMMES).

THE FLAGELLANTS CARRY CROSSES AND ARE BEATEN WITH A ROPE WITH A TOP KNOT HOLDING NEEDLES AND LEAD. EVERY HUNDRED FEET, THE PENITENTS PUT DOWN THEIR CROSSES AND ARE BEATEN WITH THE ROPE.

THE CHILDREN PLAY THEIR PART TOO. THEY BURN EFFIGIES OF THE JUDAS ISCARIOT. ALL YEAR THEY SAVE UP TO BUT THE GUNPOWDER NEEDED. IT FREQUENTLY REPRESENTS AN INVESTMENT OF FIVE DOLLARS, AND IN TAXCO, THAT'S A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY. THE SECRET OF MAKING THE EFFIGY IS PASSED DOWN FROM GRAND-FATHER TO GRANDSON. EVEN THE WOMEN HAVE A ROLE...THEY WALK IN PROCESSION WEARING CHAINS. FOR THE PEOPLE OF TAXCO, THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST ON THAT FIRST EASTER ARE VERY REAL.