Every year, the streets of Atlixco, a town in central Mexico, are filled with people on Good Friday, a significant date in the Catholic calendar.
Observers gather to watch as groups of semi-nude men navigate the hot streets, walking blindfolded.
They haul 70-pound chains and endure the pain of cactus spines piercing their arms and legs.
This intense display is part of a long-standing tradition where participants seek to atone for their sins.
Despite the spectacle’s historical significance, participation rates have dwindled in recent years.
What once was a procession of over 100 individuals now sees only 35 participants.
This decline parallels a broader trend in Mexico, where the population seeing themselves as Catholic has also decreased.
Community locals and event organizers attribute this decline to a waning belief among younger generations.
Many young people find the ritual either too arduous or are simply turning away from religious practices.
Since 1990, the percentage of Mexicans declaring themselves as Catholic has dipped from slightly over 90% to 78%, based on the data from Mexico’s 2020 census.
Vicente Valbuena, a 68-year-old businessman from Atlixco, remarked, “Young people are losing their faith.”
He also pointed out that the physical demands of the tradition contribute to the declining participation, admitting, “Also, the physical toll is pretty tough.”