Las Cortesías

Easter is a special time in Cartajima. For centuries, the town has re-enacted an encounter between Jesus and Virgin Mary that may look peculiar today. At dawn on Easter Sunday, locals turn the town’s streets into a garden, while some of their neighbours go to find a black poplar near the Genal River to ‘burn’ Judas at the procession. At seven in the morning, when the bells ring, Jesus the Boy leaves the Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario and goes to the garden, where His body is placed in a niche.

At noon, when the bells ring again, Our Lady of the Rosary leaves the church to meet Her Child. When they meet, the Mother and the Boy dance together. The dance, known as ‘Cortesías,’ is pregnant with emotion. Then, Jesus first and Mary after him go along the streets, as Judas is hanged and burnt on the black poplar tree in the garden. The procession is accompanied by fireworks that only cease when the pilgrims arrive at the church were Mass is held.

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