Dressed in white robes and high pointed hoods, children joined their parents to take part in Easter processions across Spain. The youngsters were among the many hooded 'nazareno' penitents who gathered for religious ceremonies in Cordoba and Seville in Andalusia, on Sunday. Hundreds of similar events take place throughout Spain during Easter Holy Week - known as Semana Santa. A child pulls up the mask of her high pointed hood during a procession involving 'La Borriquita' brotherhood in Cordoba, Spain . A family of penitents from the La Paz brotherhood walk to church to take part in a procession in Seville, Spain . Hundreds of similar events take place throughout Spain during Easter Holy Week - known as Semana Santa . Processions in Andalusia begin on Palm Sunday and reach their pinnacle after midnight on Good Friday, a time known as La Madrugada. Many parents enlist their children in the brotherhoods at a very young age because it takes years to move up the ranks and earn a prestigious spot in a procession, such as the coveted position of carrying a great cross at the head. Most processions are at night, and many of those who take part carry long candles to light the way from their parish church to the cathedral and back again. Most processions are at night, and many of those who take part carry long candles to light the way from their parish church to the cathedral and back again . Many parents enlist their children in the brotherhoods at a very young age because it takes years to move up the ranks and earn a prestigious spot in a procession . The penitents cover their faces with hoods in order to repent in public without being identified as part of a tradition dating back hundreds of years . Some walk barefoot or even with shackles. In some of the biggest events, a group of Roman soldiers follows. Seville, the regional capital of Andalusia, hosts some of the biggest processions, dating back to medieval times and organised by brotherhoods, or cofradias, each sporting their own colours. The penitents cover their faces with hoods in order to repent in public without being identified as part of a tradition dating back hundreds of years. Although the hooded outfits worn by worshippers are similar to those used by members of the Klu Klux Klan, the processions have nothing to do with the KKK. Seville, the regional capital of Andalusia, hosts some of the biggest processions, dating back to medieval times and organised by brotherhoods, or cofradias, each sporting their own colours . Although the hooded outfits worn by worshippers are similar to those used by members of the Klu Klux Klan, the processions have nothing to do with the KKK .
Youngsters take part in centuries-old religious ceremonies across Spain . Hundreds of similar events happen during the Semana Santa Holy Week . 'Nazareno' penitents use hoods to repent in public without being identified .