The Grand Dragon?

I was sitting at the teacher's desk, writing notes, as I waited for my students to get their materials ready. One girl, sitting in front of me, opened her agenda and I saw this drawing:

First reaction: "OH MY GOD! She's part of the KKK! What should I do?"

One second later, second reaction: "Oooppss! I'm not in the States. I'm in Spain! And this isn't the Grand Dragon, the leader of the KKK. No. It's a Penitente and it's probably a drawing of her father."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I made the common mistake that the usual American would make in Spain, though the mistake would usually occur during Semana Santa, or Easter Week, and not during the middle of January. Because, during Semana Santa, los Andaluces, or the people from the south of Spain, hold Processions. Groups, usually from a specific church, get together, wear those KKK looking outfits, and march through the city. Some play instruments in the band, some carry super heavy statues on their shoulders or on the back of their neck, and some just march. They usually march for approximately 6 hours, though some march up to 24 hours! They are Penitentes and they are sinners. They cover their faces because of the shame of their sins, and they do all that marching for penitence and for forgiveness of their sins.

So, if you are in Spain and you see a KKK figure running around, DON'T PANIC! It's not the KKK looking to lynch someone. It's probably some Spanish guy looking for his Procession. And anyway, the Spanish people only know the KKK from American movies. They wonder why the KKK copied their outfits...


Pictures of Semana Santa, 2009





The closest group of Penitentes that had the colors of a nomal KKK outfit. Most groups have different colors, like blue or purple.











These are the statues the Penitentes carry. They are under the statues and they carry them on the back of their necks.