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'Devils' whip Catholics in El Salvador to kick off Easter

Article (news)

Reuters

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">El Salvador celebrated Easter on Monday (March 25) with the traditional ceremony in which men dressed as devils whip people in an event meant to highlight the universal struggle of good versus evil.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The tradition occurs each year in the town of Texistepeque, El Salvador, some 83 kilometers (51 miles) north of San Salvador.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Actors dressed as devils and roam the streets, punishing people for their sins by lashing them. Many flock from surrounding El Salvador regions to participate in the event and get whipped to repent for sins committed during the year.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">When a Talciguin approaches the man dressed 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 to signify temptation.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With the ninth hit, the Talciguines fall, humiliated, at the feet of Jesus, who looms above them, passing a whip in the form of a chain over their bodies, representing that &#x27;good&#x27; has triumphed over &#x27;evil.&#x27;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The annual ceremony takes place before Easter when Catholics and other Christians celebrate Jesus rising from the dead after dying for their sins.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><em>(Production: Wilfredo Pineda, Diego Delgado, Liamar Ramos)</em></span></div>

<p>El Salvador celebrated Easter on Monday (March 25) with the traditional ceremony in which men dressed as devils whip people in an event meant to highlight the universal struggle of good versus evil.</p>

El Salvador celebrated Easter on Monday (March 25) with the traditional ceremony in which men dressed as devils whip people in an event meant to highlight the universal struggle of good versus evil.