Judas figures: ritual burning of evil types by Catholics during Holy Week

Party time
Originally uploaded by Leah Dagenais

In the house/museum of Frida Kahlo, Mexico City, are 2 giant papier mache Judas Figures.

The burning of Judas figures, says Wikipedia, is an Easter-time ritual in many Orthodox and Catholic Christian communities, where an effigy of Judas Iscariot is burned. Other related mistreatment of Judas effigies include hanging, flogging, and exploding with fireworks.

In many parts of Latin America this practice occurs on the eve of the new year as a symbol of ridding one's self of evil and beginning a new year in spiritual purity. Some communities observe this ritual using various effigies, including the biblical Judas (who betrayed Jesus), Satan, a harlot, or a Jew (represented by the stereotypical European depiction of a Jewish male with a goat beard, side locks, and a black frock coat). This custom, during which the effigy is burned on a stake, is invariably called "Quema del Año Viejo"[3] meaning literally "the burning of the old year."