EL SALVADOR: Salvadorans mark beginning of Holy Week with annual devil-whipping ceremony to commemorate the struggle of good versus evil

Record ID: 803725

  • Title: EL SALVADOR: Salvadorans mark beginning of Holy Week with annual devil-whipping ceremony to commemorate the struggle of good versus evil
  • Date: 3rd April 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FATHER JAVIER MARTINEZ, SAYING: "Our Talciguines get close to Jesus, which represents the biblical scene in which the devil attempts to tempt Jesus. But Jesus, with the power of God, defeats the devil." DEVIL WHIPPING WOMEN DEVIL WHIPPING BOY DEVIL WHIPPING PEOPLE AND THEN LAYING PROSTRATE ON THE GROUND DEVILS LINED UP AS THEY LAY ON THE GROUND MAN DRESSED AS JESUS CHRIST WALKING OVER DEVILS TO SYMBOLIZE THE DEVIL'S DEFEAT GENERAL VIEW OF CROWD AT EVENT
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: El Salvador, El Salvador
  • Country: El Salvador
  • Topics: Quirky,People,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVADCGDH4E2TEPSQO5H5ZTYQMVGC
  • Story Text: El Salvador's Easter kicked off on Monday (April 2) with the traditional ceremony where men dressed as devils whip each other during an event meant to highlight the universal struggle of good versus evil.
    The tradition takes place each year in the town of Texistepeque, El Salvador, located some 83 kilometres (51 miles) north of San Salvador.
    Actors called Talciguines - which means demon man - dress as devils in order to punish people for their sins by lashing them. Many flock from different surrounding regions in El Salvador to take part in the event and get whipped to repent for sins committed during the year.
    The Talciguines and a man disguised as Jesus first attend mass and offer their performances as a sacrifice. When mass ends, the whipping begins on the streets.
    "Our Talciguines get close to Jesus, which represents the biblical scene in which the devil attempts to tempt Jesus. But Jesus, with the power of God, defeats the devil," Father Javier Martinez, a local priest, explained.
    When a Talciguin approaches the man disguised as Jesus, the Talciguin hits the ground three times with his whip. Talciguines then surround Jesus and hit the ground nine times with their whips meaning temptation.
    With the ninth hit a Talciguin falls humiliated on Jesus' feet, who looms above him passing a whip in the form of a chain over his body, representing that 'good' has triumphed over 'evil.' Jesus then rings a bell meaning that he will forgive anyone in spite of their sins. The Talciguin then runs from Jesus back into Church feeling freed and relieved from his sins.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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