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A visual anthropology reportage on the millenary ritual of Vattienti, Italian flagellants that beat their legs on the eve of Easter day, in the small town of Nocera Terinese in the Calabria region. Nocera Terinese, Italy. April 21st - 23rd, 2011

Society

The ancient Vattienti ritual - Affirmation of one peoples identity

A visual anthropology reportage on the millenary ritual of Vattienti, Italian flagellants that beat their legs on the eve of Easter day, in the small...

by Ruben Salvadori in Italy on 28/06/2011

Easter found in samples of extreme penances in Taxco

Arts & Entertainment

PENITENTES EN TAXCO

An example of Easter extreme penances in Taxco

by mirepe in Mexico on 17/04/2009

The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites (also know as Maleldo) is the Holy Week re-enactment of the passion and death of Christ and takes place in an open field on the outskirts of San Fernando City, Pampanga, Philippines. 

In Cutud, where such crucifixions are a 54-year-old tradition, 25 people were crucified in three districts as thousands of foreign and local tourists flocked to the scene. Penitents (mostly men, although there were rare instances of women) are nailed to a cross using 5 cm stainless steel nails. 

Many of these “Kristos”, as the crucified men are called, have gone through this ordeal a number of times. The leader of the main body of Kristos, 48-year old Ruben Enaje, endured his 23rd crucifixion.

Mang Ben, a carpenter, vowed to undergo the ritual after he escaped unscathed when falling from a three-storey building 20 years ago. Since then he had offered himself for crucifixion every year.

Accompanying the Kristos are hundreds of “flagellants”, or “penitentes” – hooded men who whip their own bloody backs with whips of bamboo and rope, as penance for sins.

The Catholic Church does not sanction the flagellations and the crucifixions, and does not endorse them. However, thousands still descend to Pampanga to watch these rites being performed for the past decades. Whilst San Pedro Cutud is the most famous (and prominently displayed on foreign and local media). There are also two other smaller sites within the vicinity of the city that perform similar activities, Brgy. Sta Lucia and Brgy. San Juan.

Society

Cutud Lenten Rites 2009

Actual crucifixions and self-flagellation can be seen in the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines during Good Friday.

by Edelweiss Valeriano in Philippines on 09/04/2009

BREAKING NEWS

28/06/2011 - The ancient Vattienti ritual - Affirmation of one peoples identity - Italy - A visual anthropology reportage on the...
17/12/2010 - Ritualistic Self Flagellation During Ashura Festival in Karachi - Pakistan - A group of men and young boys perform a...
17/04/2009 - PENITENTES EN TAXCO - Mexico - An example of Easter extreme penances...
09/04/2009 - Cutud Lenten Rites 2009 - Philippines - Actual crucifixions and self-...
09/04/2009 - A Ritual of Faith - Philippines - Every Good Friday of Holy Week in the...

Latest News

Shia Muslims observe Yaum-e-Ashura
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Kashmiri Shiite Muslims march to mark seventh day of Muharram
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The ancient Vattienti ritual - Affirmation of one peoples identity
A visual anthropology reportage on the millenary ritual of Vattienti, Italian flagellants that beat their legs on the eve of Easter day, in the small town of Nocera Terinese in the Cala...
Procession of the mysteries of Trapani- The Good Friday
The Mysteries are the artistic depiction of the death and passion of Christ, a total of 20 religious groups, including two statues of Jesus and the Dead Lady of Sorrows. - Trapani (ITA)...
Easter in Palermo  - The Crucifixion
47th sacred representation of the Passion of Jesus in Partanna-Mondello, a suburb of the city of Palermo. Palermo,Italy,23/04/2011
Easter in Palermo
47th sacred representation of the Passion of Jesus in Partanna-Mondello, a suburb of the city of Palermo.
The Human Ant-Eaters of North East Thailand.
The human ant-eaters of North East Thailand. A day hunting, catching and eating large brown tree ants and their lavae with a local farmer in the Thai region of Isan. Isan Hant Cuisine.
Holy Week Flagellant in Bulacan
A hooded penitent with a bloodied back prays while lying on his belly at the entrance of a church during Maundy Thursday Lenten rites in the province of Bulacan, north of Manila.
The Holy Ashura Procession, Dhaka
The holy Ashura was observed across Bangladesh on Friday commemorating the Karbala tragedy over 1350 years ago in which Hazrat Imam Hossain (RA) embraced martyrdom fighting for truth an...
Ritualistic Self Flagellation During Ashura Festival in Karachi
A group of men and young boys perform a ritualistic self flagellation during the Ashura Festival in Karachi, Pakistan. 17/12/2010
Ashura in Hyderabad
Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves with knifes during a Ashura procession in Hyderabad, Pakistan. 17/12/2010
Muharram in Amritsar
Indian Shiite Muslims punish themselves during a Muharram procession in Amritsar, India. 17/12/2010
Ashura in Karachi, Pakistan
DMTX. Every year Shias all over the world mourn the deaths of one of their Imams in a ritual known as Ashura, which involves amongst other things ritualistic self flagellation using han...
Good Friday in the Philippines
Flagellants roam the streets during yearly religious rituals in Tarlac City, Northern Philippines on Friday April 2, 2010