Christine Sweeney, Semana Santa - Religion is the Opium of the People (DOCO 2026)

Semana Santa, Andalusia, Spain. The sights, sounds, solemnity and festivity of the numerous processions which occur during Holy Week. These images from Seville, Cordoba and Granada capture the pageantry, rituals and scale of the processions and the seriousness of all of the participants no matter their age. The ornate and heavy Pasos, carried by the Costaleros on long circular routes throughout the streets. Lead and accompanied by the Nazarenos wearing their capirote hoods, the elegant Donas, with peinita and mantilla, carrying rosaries and candle sticks, represent the mourners of Christ. As the band plays, Ninos, boys and girls, hand out religious cards and sweets to the spectators who line the streets. The crowds of all ages run ahead of the procession, in their best clothes to get the best vantage point, navigating road blocks, only adds to the excitement and carnival like atmosphere. The experience on the final evening was summed up by the graffiti which frames the crowd on the wall of the Granada Cathedrale quoting Karl Marx " La religion es ei opio del publeo" ( Religion is the Opiim of the People)

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.