LOS EMPALAOS
On the 6th of April 2023 I travelled to Valverde de la Vera a town located in the Spanish province of Caceres with around 500 habitants to photograph the ‘Empalaos’ procession. Throughout the night of Moundy Thursday penitents perform a Via Crucis wearing a lace veil topped with a crown of spines reminiscent of the one worn by Jesus Christ on the cross, whilst being strapped to a wooden mast that is positioned over the shoulders forcing the wearer to emulate a cross-like shape. This procession happens once a year and first written documents in which this act is referred to date back to 1654.
On the 6th of April 2023 I travelled to Valverde de la Vera a town located in the Spanish province of Caceres with around 500 habitants to photograph the ‘Empalaos’ procession. Throughout the night of Moundy Thursday penitents perform a Via Crucis wearing a lace veil topped with a crown of spines reminiscent of the one worn by Jesus Christ on the cross, whilst being strapped to a wooden mast that is positioned over the shoulders forcing the wearer to emulate a cross-like shape. This procession happens once a year and first written documents in which this act is referred to date back to 1654.
