Don't panic, this is not what you think

On my food tours with Spain and the Chef during Semana Santa in Seville, my guests kept asking why on earth do people wear these provocative outfits, who are these so-called penitents and nazarenes, and what do they have to do with the KKK? Let's start from the beginning:

WHAT IS A CAPIROTE? THE EMBARRASSING ORIGIN OF THE CAPIROTES OF HOLY WEEK

If you are a first-timer in Spain during Holy Week, you might be a bit shocked by the cone-shaped hats, face-covering masks, and long costumes you see people wearing in the streets, especially during processions. Those hats are called 'capirote' and date back to the Middle Ages when they were part of the attire worn by convicts during the 'walk of penance' given to them before execution.

The squares where prisoners were executed used to be packed with curious and bloodthirsty spectators. According to historians, the capirote was introduced so everyone could spot the condemned person and the sin assigned to them, which were drawn on the capirote. When the Inquisition arrived in 1478, everything became even more miserable: In addition to the capirote, those condemned for religious reasons also had to wear a San Benito, a blessed sack worn as a humiliating garment. By wearing the capirote, the condemned expiated their sin and fulfilled their sentence.

THE BROTHERHOODS OF SEVILLE GAVE IT A NEW MEANING

The brutal implications of the capirote lasted until the 17th century when the Inquisition lost power. In Seville, some confraternities decided to incorporate it into their processions but with a new meaning of faith and to preserve the identity of the penitent. They connected it to Jesus' suffering during Holy Week, symbolizing his sacrifice for forgiveness and resurrection. Additionally, the pointed capirote is said to symbolically elevate the penitent towards heaven. 

The color of the capirote varies among each confraternity and originally symbolizes: red for Christ's blood, black for mourning, white for God's glory, and green for hope in resurrection. So, if you visit Seville and see these cone-shaped hats everywhere, don't be alarmed; you might even find them as candies!

PENITENTS OR NAZARENES?

It is necessary to distinguish the Nazarenes from those properly called penitents. While the Nazarenes 'only' recreate the passion of Christ, the penitents are those who mortify themselves in some way during the processions, either by walking barefoot or dragging chains.

Nowadays, penitences are not as extreme as in previous centuries when some processions resulted in real streams of blood. This spectacle, inherited from the Middle Ages, was banned by King Carlos III for being considered too violent. That's why, at least in Spain, we no longer witness mortifications like those still practiced in other Christian countries.

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOLY WEEK AND KKK?

I know from my culinary tours that the image of a brotherhood dressed in capirotes can be very impressive for those who do not know our culture. For many first-time visitors to Semana Santa, those white hoods evoke images of the KKK in the worst scenes of lynching in the USA, a symbol of hatred and racial violence. While the traditional capirote dates back to the Middle Ages, the KKK adopted it much more recently, in the 19th century, to perpetrate their heinous acts and hide their identities, in reference to the cruelty of the punishments inflicted by the inquisitors. However, much to the contrary, in Semana Santa the capirotes are worn to ask forgiveness for sins and to symbolize Christian belief.

WHAT TO EAT IN SEMANA SANTA?

Find out in our other articles about typical Semana Santa dishes and Semana Santa sweets you shouldn't miss and learn what Spain and the Chef is all about.

Learn more about Spanish culture and especially our rich gastronomy, following us on Facebook and Instagram, where I share many more curiosities of our land, until you visit me for a culinary immersion in Andalucía.

Yours,

Óscar González Moreno