A One of a Kind Easter Celebration

A hooded man with a whip may not seem very much like Easter, but in many places in the historical Latin American and Spanish worlds, it was.  The time before Easter was a penitential time in which people attempted to purge themselves of their sins to ready themselves for the joy of Christ's resurrection on Easter Day.  Flagellation, self-whipping to cause pain, was one way. 

A completely unique twist on this ancient practice is still found in Nandaime Nicaragua on the Wednesday before Easter.  I had the privilege of viewing (and, unanticipatedly, feeling) his event first-hand. Here is this link to the article.

https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2016/04/taking-hit-holy-wednesday-in-nandaime.html