Neil Meyerhoff

We have come to Mexico to photograph the religious processions in several towns that celebrate the events surrounding Christ's death and resurrection. Our first stop is the famous silver mining town of Taxco. There are many churches in Taxco and each church takes part in the nighty processions. The churches take their statues down from the alters and walk them around the town on litters carried on the shoulders of male congregants. They are sometimes accompanied by bands playing music. One group was also dressed as Middle Eastern shepherds.

The processions, are led by young children dressed as angels, and teenage girls carrying incense burners. They are followed by the penitentes who are carry crosses or 150 pound bundles of thorns on their backs. Some of them also have ropes with thorns on the end and they whip themselves on their backs. On their lower backs are two areas where these men have torn the flesh off and they are bleeding. Their handlers spray them with an alcohol solution to keep down the chance of infection. Harvey says this is mild flagelllation compared to times past.

It takes several hours to walk up and down Taxco's hills, and the men carrying the heavy bundles are truly taking part in a mystical experience.