b'Tradition, belief and pride bring together a community of faithful each year during Semana Santa, the week leading up to Easter, in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial town in the Sierra Madre mountains of central Mexico. Renowned for the extent and scale of its observances, SanMiguelhostsdailyprocessions,whichrepresentthefourteen Stations of the Crossthe successive incidents during Jesus progress from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his crucifixion and burial.Thousands of people make the pilgrimage to witness these processions and partake in the mass mourning and very public repentance of sins.Thefaithfulwalkforhours,manybarefootandbleeding,as they stagger under the weight of litters bearing enormous icons. The atmosphereisspirituallychargedanddeeplyemotionalforboth participant and onlooker.1'