In Mexico, Easter celebrations included burning figures representing evil, with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin among those depicted.
Traditional Burning of Judas in Mexico
Mexico observes a tradition known as the “burning of Judas” during Holy Saturday, involving the burning of papier-mâché figures symbolizing evil. This year, effigies of Donald Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the recently slain drug lord El Mencho were burned.
Traditionally, these figures represent the devil, but artisans increasingly incorporate current events and public figures, reflecting societal moods.
Figures Reflect Current Events
Figures of Trump and drug barons were burned in Mexico, with some cities hosting contests for the most beautiful figure. In Toluca, Christopher Luis presented a figure of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the leader of the CJNG cartel, whose death in February sparked unrest in several states.
The artist explained to the Mexican newspaper “Milenio” that the drug lord “considered himself a greater devil than the devil himself.”
Criticism of U.S. Immigration Policy
Many locations also burned figures referencing the situation in the U.S., often criticizing the brutality of ICE. The Mexican Foreign Ministry reported that fourteen Mexicans died during ICE detentions and in ICE custody since the start of Donald Trump’s second presidency. Figures depicting ICE agents and Trump himself were displayed, with one reading: “No to ICE, no to war, no to intervention.”
Political and Social Commentary
On the Merced Balbuena neighborhood in Mexico City, known for its Judas figures, an effigy of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in a soccer uniform was burned. This may be interpreted as criticism of the organization of this year’s World Cup in Mexico, including high preparation costs, gentrification, and water access issues near Estadio Azteca.
Figures of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also appeared in Puebla.
A Tradition with Historical Roots
Judas figures haven’t always depicted specific individuals; in the past, they have symbolized issues like the coronavirus, corruption, and media bias. The tradition of burning Judas figures is also widespread in other Latin American countries and Europe, and was once popular in Poland, particularly in the south, and continues today in places like Skoczów, Pruchnik, and Krośnica.
Other Easter Traditions in Mexico
Mexico also features reenactments of the Stations of the Cross, most famously in Iztapalapa. In the south and central regions, penitents flagellate themselves with whips ending in nails or carry cacti and thorny branches on their backs. In 2017, a man playing Judas during a reenactment in Michoacan lost his balance and died by hanging.