GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ

Photographer

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Location: Spain, Madrid

Nationality: Peruvian/Spanish

Biography: Freelance photographer with a decade of professional experience, currently based in Madrid, Spain. I specialize in documentary photography and photojournalism. My previous background as an architect has significantly enriched my ability to... MORE

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Copyright GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ 2024

Updated Sep 2018

Topics Belief, Black and White, Celebrations, Christianity, Community, Documentary, Dying/Death, Editorial, Faith, Historical, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Religion, Spirituality

"Los Empalaos" is a traditional ceremony celebrated from immemorial times in the night of Maundy Thursday in the small village of Valverde de la Vera, Caceres, Spain.

This is the story about one of the citizens of Valverde de la Vera. Cesar Higuero Martin, aged 26 who decided to dress-up as an Empalao and complete the ceremony.He meets with his relatives in a family house late in the night, so he can be dress-up in the traditional costume . The process is taken with great care with the family and dressers paying attention to ensure that no harm is caused to the penitent.

Empalaos make the steps of the 'Via Crucis', marking the Stations of the Cross, during the night of Maundy Thursday while bound by rope to a crucifix as an act of penance and to honour a promise made to the Empalaos Brotherhood and the Christ of Vera Cruz. Finished the Vía Crucis of 14 stations, they return to the house from where they started so the Empalao is undressed, finally the body is rubbed to recover the good traffic of the blood.

GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ / China

Sep 6, 2018

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