San Vicente de la Sonsierra (EFE) ancestral of medieval origin, which has a unique character in Spain.
The Holy Thursday procession is the first time that this tradition is repeated every Holy Week, which is repeated on this same day at the “Holy Hour”, inside the church of San Vicente and with the expectation that it will be carried out by another five disciplinarians, explained to EFE the spokesman for the Brotherhood of Vera Cruz, José Ramón Eguíluz.
Each of the “picaos” has chosen a moment of the procession to start this rite, always behind one of the images that run through the intricate streets of San Vicente, carried by members of this brotherhood, whose origins are documented in the 16th century. .
In the Holy Thursday procession the images of the Holy Cross, the apostles, Jesus Captive -carried by women-, Jesus whipped and the Sorrowful Virgin walk through the streets.
Although this rite is going to be repeated on Good Friday, it will be done with a different route, in the morning and in the afternoon, and also with different images.
The “picaos”, covered with a hood to hide their identity and a white linen habit with an opening at the back, have flogged his back with a skein of cotton, between 750 and 850 grams, for about 20 minutes and have given up to nearly a thousand blows each.
After that moment, the practitioner who accompanies each disciplinarian lightly hits the lower back area three times on each side, which allows a little blood to flow and avoid further discomfort, but never to further mortify or increase suffering. .
The crystals that the “sponge” contains and that the practitioner uses for the “chopping” allow each disciplinarian to receive 12 punctures, which symbolize the 12 apostles, after which they receive a hygienic and sanitary wash with rosemary water, so that they do not there are effects on the puncture and bruising produced.