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Here in Spain, most events are open to all the family, and this includes religious ones.
At last week's Semana Santa processions in Seville, you could see children of all ages, from babes in arms to teenagers, taking part wearing mini versions of the outfits worn by fully-fledged nazarenos. Smaller Sevillanos wear the moneguillo, or altar boy, to join in with these world-famous Holy Week events.
Children also collect sweets ("Nazareno, dame un caramelo" is the popular refrain) and small cards with images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus statues of the hermandad, and play mini versions (in size, not volume) of the drums which provide processions with their sombre rhythm.
This being Spain, small children are rarely told to hush, and they run about with their siblings and friends on the frequent pauses in the procession - unless, of course, they are wearing the hood and walking with the nazarenos. Some join in from a young age, although not for the entire route; an hour or so, with their parents walking alongside.
Semana Santa is a tradition which is held especially dear in Seville, with tens of thousands of locals taking part, while others - from the city, other parts of Andalucia and Spain, and abroad - line the streets to watch.
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