Arrests During Burning Of Judas Remains a "Tradition" In Costa Rica

Once again Holy Saturday the burning of Judas was held and once again a good number of participants had to be detained by police for causing unrest during the activity.

Although authorities mounted as series of operations in places like Alajuela and Heredia, hooligans ensured that the order of the annual religious activity was held with disorder.

Police report the arrest of 46 individuals, 33 alone detained in San Rafael de Heredia, where several police officials were beaten as anti-riot squad had to be called in as rioters blocked several roads.

The burning of Judas is an Easter-time ritual in Costa Rica, where an effigy of Judas Iscariot is burned. Other related mistreatment of Judas effigies include hanging, flogging, and exploding with fireworks.

Anthropologists generalize these type of activities as "scapegoating rituals". A similar ritual would be the hanging in effigy of Haman and his ten sons during Purim.

Though not an official part of the Easter liturgical cycle, the custom is typically a part of the reenactment of the story of the Passion that is practiced by the faithful during Easter. Customs vary, but the effigy of Judas is typically hanged (reenacting Matthew 27:5) on Good Friday, then burned on the night of Easter Sunday.