Holy Week in Mexico until only the center candle, representing Jesus, remains lit. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, and many communities have special masses dedicated to the blessing of palm fronds. These fronds are often woven into crosses and other designs, sometimes quite intricate and brought by parishioners to have holy water sprinkled on them. Some fronds are later burned and the ashes saved for marking foreheads on the following Ash Wednesday. Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the celebration of Easter proper. Cathedrals in the country have special masses celebrated by bishops, with “chrism” a sacred oil used in the sacraments, is
Holy Week in Braga flames. Some “farricocos” accompany nearby the “fogaréus” with baskets of pine cones to go renewing the fire. As a whole, they are exotic and impressive figures, which became, for many people, a species of ex-libris of the Holy Week of Braga. See its brief description before. It is a very rooted custom in the North of Portugal, on Easter Sunday. A group of people (“Compasso”), whenever possible chaired by a priest, with festive costumes, departing from their parish church with a decked cross go to visit Christian families to announce the Christ resurrection and to bless their homes. Ring the