Procesión del Cautivo

Last night under rain threatening skies, I walked down to Calle Socorro to watch the first procession of this years Semana Santa "Jesús Cautivo y Nuestra Señora del Socorro". 

At just before 8pm, the Nazarenos in their white tunics appeared.

The first paso (platform) portraying Jesus the Captive, carried by forty members of the brotherhood, began its difficult journey through the streets of Olvera. It will be at least another four or five hours before they return to the Iglesia de Socorro.  

The second paso in the procession carried the image of the Virgin Mother.  

 

 

Sombre music was performed by the drums and bugles of the Santa Anna band (left) and the blue uniformed Band of Music of Olvera. I left the procession at this point, returning to see it in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento below at about 11.30pm.

There had been some light rain during the course of the procession and as a protective measure, the paso was covered with a plastic sheet as it entered the Plaza. However, with the rain stopping and to great applause from the onlookers, it was removed for the final part of the journey back to the Iglesia del Socorro.

 

I followed the procession to the corner of Partida and Calle San Ildefonso before heading home with nothing but admiration at the devotion, dedication, skill and strength of the "costaleros", who had carried the paso's along the most difficult route of Holy Week.