Semana Santa
Spain is especially renowned for its Holy Week traditions otherwise known as Semana Santa, which is also a religious holiday.
Holy Week, the last week of Lent, which is the week immediately before Easter, has many glamorous celebrations throughout Spain, when religious sculptures are exhibited in processions around particular cities, like those depicted here in Valladolid and Zamora, which are more sombre and solemn events.
A common feature on these occasions is the almost general usage of the 'Nazareno' or penitential robe for some of the participants in the processions. This garment consists of a tunic and a hood with a conical tip (capirote), used to conceal the face of the wearer and sometimes a cloak.
The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. The exact colours and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession, where they carry processional candles or rough-hewn crosses.