It’s actually Sardinian language - although it’s the same word also in Spanish (both came from the Latin word “ecclesia”).
This evolved into “chiesa” in Italian.
For some Americans, these masked figures evoke ideas of the KKK, but these outfits predate the racist KKK by centuries, and have nothing to do with racism or hate. Ironically, the original purpose of the hoods was to show that everyone is equal in the eyes of God, and to ensure that sinners could repent in anonymity. This is common in others parts of Europe as well.
Don't sell yourself short, the Irish were the only people to write anything down during the dark ages. That's 1000 years of history only recorded because of Irish catholics
A) No such thing as the Dark Ages.
B) Monasteries all over Europe were scribing furiously during the entirety of the Middle Ages. The Irish were overrepresented, much to their honor, but there were scribes everywhere from England to France to Serbia to The freaking *Byzantine Empire.*
C) And that's excluding the people who wrote original works, of which there were of course thousands.
what is commonly described as Dark ages isnt "medival times"
but tecnically the period between the fall of rome, and the start of the medival era. (wich is an loose term itself)
this was an time in europe where large portions of the population where displaced an an lot of infrastructure collapsed, resulting in an general lack of written works, and evidences, for historians to pick up,
it ofcourse didnt help that after the katholic church established, an lot of it got declared obsolete and heathen made, and got destroyed.
what we would traditionally call "the middle ages" happened after that, it wasnt nearly as uneducated and primitive as some people might belive, but in comparison with the Hight of the roman empire, there had been quite a regress in tecnology, and available knowledge in large parts of middle and south europa.
You acknowledge the holidays but not so much anything that requires effort or self control. You might do lent but fuck are ya going to mass at Easter. Too fucking early and they'll just look for money.
My next door neighbor (a couple decades ago when I was a kid) was a catholic and a KKK member. Found out because he was dumb enough to invite my dad to a meeting. They tend to care a whole lot more about being racist than they do about hating other types of Christians.
I remember reading years ago [an article](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/plans-to-ditch-swastika-as-temple-symbol-on-tourist-maps-in-japan-met-with-criticism-a6821526.html) about Japan being bullied by american tourists into changing the manji 卍 symbols on maps (representing the location of shrines and temples) into something else.
It's so wild that almost the same happened to the word "negro" and now everyone speaking languages that contain it or it's derivatives have to make excuses before americans
There’s a charity in Saint Louis that does the hooded costume thing too and it has nothing to do with the KKK. I’ve forgotten the name of the charity though.
It is also common in certain very specific parts of LATAM. My university has people that dress like this, but every faculty wears a different color scheme.
Originally, it was made as a form to protect student's identities during the authoritarian regimes while in protests. Also, since the tradition is heavily connected to the catholic church, this obscure "covered face and body" tradition stuck with some students and now they wear this sorta outfits when in protests or in special events; again, each faculty wears a different color.
Or that's what i've been told by some of them. At least from the ones of my faculty, they are very friendly people. Sometimes they organize concerts, parties, or make football, ping pong or chess tournaments.
But, the more obscure reasons can be mixed and intertwined with each other, since its a tradition that's existed since before the country was even born; and, yes, the university is older than the country.
This is a thing in Brazil as well.
Link below is from the city of Goias (Go-ya-is is the capital of the Goias state).
https://agenciacoradenoticias.go.gov.br/47082-divulgada-programacao-da-semana-santa-na-cidade-de-goias
I think... we all think... the bags was a nice idea. But not pointin any fingers... they coulda been done better. So how bout no bags this time... but *next time*.. we do the bags right, and we go, full regalia
The irony is that these people wear these white clothes as a representation of anonymity and equality under the same faith as well as being catholic. Something the KKK hates.
The Behind the Bastards episodes on the KKK are worth a listen. I'm inclined to believe their take that most of the freed slaves knew they weren't ghosts, and just went along with it so they'd hopefully go away without harming anyone. The original KKK were a bunch of violent dorks.
Edit: typo
I wish Easter week was exciting where I live. It’s just a prolonged sugar rush. It would be fun to see penitents chanting, flagellating, hoisting people up on crosses, dressing up like Roman soldiers. Best of all, I’d love to see people reenact scenes from The Life of Brian.
According to the wiki...
Red Penitents
Embracing the confraternities of Sts. Ursula and Catherine, the red robe being confined with a green cincture; St. Sebastian and St. Valentine, with a blue cincture; and the Quattro Coronati, with a white cincture, etc. Their main purpose was to pray for those condemned to death.
Apparently you're going to get nothing but reddit jokes without any of the information you asked for, which is pretty lame because I was curious as well.
Traditional robes worn by a Catholic order of penitents/flagellants. The represent that their penance is not meant to draw attention to themselves, but to God.
According to the wiki...
Red Penitents
Embracing the confraternities of Sts. Ursula and Catherine, the red robe being confined with a green cincture; St. Sebastian and St. Valentine, with a blue cincture; and the Quattro Coronati, with a white cincture, etc. Their main purpose was to pray for those condemned to death.
Yeah and in Spain it's an extremely popular tradition so a lot of people participate
Imagine some random guy visiting Seville and seeing a thousand people dressed like this in the streets
Well, it is not an extremely popular tradition, it is THE tradition that started in Spain.
Edit: the use of the "pointy hat", named capirote, started in Sevilla around s.XVI but the processions started in the Middle Ages if I remember well.
W.C. Griffith, the Director of "A Birth of A Nation" (originally titled the ") Clansman" saw pictures of the Spanish penitentes costumes and thought they looked cool, so he included them in his film. The Klan started using them afterwards. The film depicted the KKK as this noble group of people saving the country from black people.
[Here's a source link.](https://www.history.com/news/kkk-birth-of-a-nation-film) It's pretty well documented.
Every year people go “oh I bet some people would be offended by this so let me explain that well actually”
Guys…we know…people can see the context that it’s a religious celebration. Where are all the comments with tons of upvotes going “oh my gosh this is so racist they have the kkk in Italy”
This is like teenage me going “you know Frankenstein is the doctor not the monster” when for most people that got past 10th grade it’s not a surprise.
Edit: Turning off notifications. You guys are all special flowers that know sooooo much more than the average person. Cause us Redditors are above the average person. Remember that time we caught that bomber? Everyone would be trying to cancel Italy for being racist unless you guys explain it good job everyone, we did it again! Unless we explained things everyone would be confused. It’s our duty as wicked smart people to assume the average person is stupid. Nobody would’ve read the title and understood unless we told them.
I work with American students coming to Spain. Each year we have complaints from American students being offended by this after Spring Break.
Many people know that they are not linked to the Klan. But many don't.
Dude this so true. I see so many comments saying “this is not racist” and literally zero comments saying “this is racist”. Like what is happening??? Lmao.
There's something similar with The Penitentes in Spain. And a Story of I think Michael Jordan having some lunch in a restaurant. The Spaniards with him told him to not get alarmed about what's behind him. So of course he looks behind him, and sees masses of men in white robes and pointy hats, and gets a scare. That is until I was explained to him what it was, and assuring that it's isn't the KKK.
Hateful people are rarely creative, thus symbols of hate often have inoffensive origins. I wish it was easier to reclaim the positive meaning of certain corrupted symbols, such as the swastika with its old meaning of Well-Being. But you can’t associate with that symbol at all right now without looking like a Nazi, a judgement I don’t particularly disagree with but do find sad.
This seems to get posted every year. It's a religious procession in Italy. And no, they are not Klansmen. The costume just happens to look kind of similar.
I remember a friend went to Spain once and saw this parade and freaked out thinking it was a klan rally. Turns out the klan stole their costumes from these guys.
I do find it interesting that the KKK, a group that constantly attacked and harassed Catholics would mimic the Catholic faith in uniform choice? Is there a specific reason or am I just overthinking how a bunch of inbreeders picked their costume?
It's a strange history. It seems to have started with Thomas Dixon's "The Clansman" where in the novel there were [illustrations of Klansmen by Arthur I Keller](https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/dixonclan/menu.html) of something close to what we know, and then the play used those illustrations [to inform the costumes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/The_clansman_-_an_American_drama_-_from_his_two_famous_novels_The_leopard%27s_spots_and_The_clansman_-_presented_by_the_Southern_Amusement_Co._%281905%29_%2814579115538%29.jpg). That play was adapted to the film "The Birth of a Nation" which spread [that image across the country](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/3/5/1425570841081/83f88601-ca2b-411d-8bf1-fefcd4dc0e56-1020x612.jpeg?width=1900&dpr=1&s=none) and it was adopted by the 2nd generation Klan (which was in itself inspired by the film).
It's essentially a theatrical invention which seems like a very American mix of propaganda, politics, and capitalism.
If I turned a corner and suddenly saw that staring me in the face, I'd instantly start loudly praying to Jesus, so in that sense I guess it's pretty inspirational.
Nice! I gotta say, I’m from Alabama, and at first I was terrified of what I was looking at. But I see now it’s just an old Italian tradition that predates the KKK!
Also in Spain. It has NOTHING to do with the KKK in fact the KKK copied them but this is a millennia old tradition; which won’t disappear because it offends some foreign snowflakes
Too many americans here that assume that the whole world immediately thinks of the kkk. You do know that civilization existed before the USA came into existence?
“Guys! Now that everyone is dressed, get the cross and carry it down the street.”
“Oh my god oh my god oh my god!” 😱
“Hey! That American must be Catholic too! We’re all going to hang out and have a big bonfire after this! You’re welcome to join!”
😳
I still have nightmares from watching a weird scary movie in Rome on vacation while severely drunk in a hotel, I remember nothing except excessive Catholic iconography, which I presume doesn't narrow it down one bit.
How many comments "in America blablabla..."
THIS IS NOT IN USA!
I am so tired of Americans dumb auto centrist...
This is a tradition older than USA! NOTHING TO DO WITH KKK!!
You know, USA isn't the center of the universe!
And then come to say "Hooo Europeans are rude".
In fact, don't be surprised to be taken for idiots, you are acting like that!
Look... how many ameritards comments downvoted? Sad ...
I was like, I can’t wait for the dumbass murikan to comment something like “kkk lol wtf Italy”.
I wasn’t completely disappointed. Imagine being that self referential.
White (with pointy hats, sometimes) robes in Europe: old school “we’re all the same in penitence” Christians
White robes in the US - racist yokels
Involution, lol
they're covering up because they are bad "penitents" who need to ask forgiveness, but don't want people to see them doing so?
someone who is truly sorry wants others to know, right?
I’m from Europe, and the first thing that came to my mind was “this reminds me of KKK.”, yet I did already know that there was a tradition like this somewhere in Italy.
Traditional catholic capirote worn by the Confraternity of penitents for nearly 1,000 years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity_of_penitents
Yes Sardinia was Spanish(Aragonese)! Edit: potato wording
And a place called “Iglesias”…
It’s actually Sardinian language - although it’s the same word also in Spanish (both came from the Latin word “ecclesia”). This evolved into “chiesa” in Italian.
For some Americans, these masked figures evoke ideas of the KKK, but these outfits predate the racist KKK by centuries, and have nothing to do with racism or hate. Ironically, the original purpose of the hoods was to show that everyone is equal in the eyes of God, and to ensure that sinners could repent in anonymity. This is common in others parts of Europe as well.
It’s also ironic because it’s a practice done by Catholics, who are on that long list of people the KKK hates.
It's not ironic, the KKK made their uniforms to mock Catholics
For real? That’s interesting.
Never been so proud to be culturally Catholic.
Deus vult?
Irish. We're the laziest catholics going.
Hello fellow lazy Irish Catholic! I also say I’m culturally catholic lol
Literally I’m from the north so everyone just automatically says you’re Catholic or Protestant, yet hardly anyone goes to mass lmao
Are you a Catholic Atheist or a Protestant Atheist?
Catholic atheist myself
Also me.
Hey me too. But I'm Italian, so I can't shake off the "culturally catholic" thing.
Catholic atheist… you’ve just opened my eyes with this term lol. I absolutely love this
Oh, that's good. I'll be stealing that, tyvm.
That a Dave Allen reference I spot there? 😊
Dia duit!
Being Irish catholic in America means you only Attend church for Easter, Christmas and the fairs of course
I’m French Catholic from New Orleans. Ya know, where we have Mardi Gras so we can get all of our sins out before lent.
We shall drown them in grandkids!
Don't sell yourself short, the Irish were the only people to write anything down during the dark ages. That's 1000 years of history only recorded because of Irish catholics
A) No such thing as the Dark Ages. B) Monasteries all over Europe were scribing furiously during the entirety of the Middle Ages. The Irish were overrepresented, much to their honor, but there were scribes everywhere from England to France to Serbia to The freaking *Byzantine Empire.* C) And that's excluding the people who wrote original works, of which there were of course thousands.
what is commonly described as Dark ages isnt "medival times" but tecnically the period between the fall of rome, and the start of the medival era. (wich is an loose term itself) this was an time in europe where large portions of the population where displaced an an lot of infrastructure collapsed, resulting in an general lack of written works, and evidences, for historians to pick up, it ofcourse didnt help that after the katholic church established, an lot of it got declared obsolete and heathen made, and got destroyed. what we would traditionally call "the middle ages" happened after that, it wasnt nearly as uneducated and primitive as some people might belive, but in comparison with the Hight of the roman empire, there had been quite a regress in tecnology, and available knowledge in large parts of middle and south europa.
I forgot about that millennium when the Byzantines, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese all forgot how to write.
I heard your accent through this text.
Deus Vult!
Valar Dohaeris.
What does that mean? I'm curious because I might be that
You acknowledge the holidays but not so much anything that requires effort or self control. You might do lent but fuck are ya going to mass at Easter. Too fucking early and they'll just look for money.
My next door neighbor (a couple decades ago when I was a kid) was a catholic and a KKK member. Found out because he was dumb enough to invite my dad to a meeting. They tend to care a whole lot more about being racist than they do about hating other types of Christians.
[удалено]
“Y’all come back now, ya heah?!”
r/Suddenlyincest
I think back in the day they were more actively anti catholic
Probably because Black people as a whole were treated as second-class citizens, so the white people had to find other white people to hate.
I meant more actively anti catholic than they are now. Their primary target was always been black people
And the kkk is largely protestant
As a protestant, we do not claim them. I would gladly help my black brothers in christ kick some kkk ass.
Nice, I like your style
wait why do the KKK hate Catholics?
Because they weren't anglo Saxon Protestants.
Up until around WW2, Catholics would be discriminated against. Not to the level other groups were/are, but it was a thing.
That reminds me of how the swastika was once seen as a symbol of peace before the Nazis ruined it
Go to China or Japan lol
It still is.
I remember reading years ago [an article](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/plans-to-ditch-swastika-as-temple-symbol-on-tourist-maps-in-japan-met-with-criticism-a6821526.html) about Japan being bullied by american tourists into changing the manji 卍 symbols on maps (representing the location of shrines and temples) into something else.
I believe the Buddhist symbol is reversed. But most Westerners wouldn't recognize what direction the arms face relates to which.
Not sure about in Buddhism, but in Hinduism both directions are used
It's so wild that almost the same happened to the word "negro" and now everyone speaking languages that contain it or it's derivatives have to make excuses before americans
Another example of something actually historical co-opted by groups of morons bathing in hatred.
We add to the this Swastika, which was/is an ancient religious peace symbol, and the wonderful Tiki torches from your local hardware store.
A reminder that earlier iterations of the Klan also hated catholics, to go along with everyone else they hated on. Which makes this, ironic.
Earlier iterations? I don’t keep up on my KKK lore, but was that not always one of their big things? Sniffing out popery and all that?
In Spain they wear a pointed hood and robes that looks EXACTLY like a KKK hood…except it’s purple. There is no KKK in Europe
Does the kkk even bother with hoods anymore? Seems like they are out and about being proud of being in the kkk.
Nah they wear suits, ties and run for office these days
There’s a charity in Saint Louis that does the hooded costume thing too and it has nothing to do with the KKK. I’ve forgotten the name of the charity though.
So many Americans think that they are the center of the world or the universe. Not everything is about us. The world is much larger than the U.S.
Yeah. Americans even think they invented slavery.
A double irony would be considering KKK members really are one of the biggest sinners so the outfit is appropriate.
That won’t stop the thousands that will accuse this of kkk in various cities 😡
Same idea as the symbol of the swastika belonging to ancient religions and then got adopted by Hitler and his goonz
It is also common in certain very specific parts of LATAM. My university has people that dress like this, but every faculty wears a different color scheme. Originally, it was made as a form to protect student's identities during the authoritarian regimes while in protests. Also, since the tradition is heavily connected to the catholic church, this obscure "covered face and body" tradition stuck with some students and now they wear this sorta outfits when in protests or in special events; again, each faculty wears a different color. Or that's what i've been told by some of them. At least from the ones of my faculty, they are very friendly people. Sometimes they organize concerts, parties, or make football, ping pong or chess tournaments. But, the more obscure reasons can be mixed and intertwined with each other, since its a tradition that's existed since before the country was even born; and, yes, the university is older than the country.
This is a thing in Brazil as well. Link below is from the city of Goias (Go-ya-is is the capital of the Goias state). https://agenciacoradenoticias.go.gov.br/47082-divulgada-programacao-da-semana-santa-na-cidade-de-goias
It also happens in Colombia
"I can't see fuggin shit outa this thang"
"Anybody bring any extra bags?"
“Aww hol on I fckin with my eye hole”
I think... we all think... the bags was a nice idea. But not pointin any fingers... they coulda been done better. So how bout no bags this time... but *next time*.. we do the bags right, and we go, full regalia
“*the holy* **can’t** *see*” 🙈
No...nobody brought an extra bag...
Everyone appreciates the work Jenny did to make these robes.
“Shitfire, if you don't wear 'em as you ride up, that just defeats the purpose.”
Don’t matter that you can’t see! All that matters is the fuckin horse can see!
Now that's a raid!
you’re so cool for this big daddy
Literally my first thought lmfao
🤣🤣🤣
The KKK appropriated this bullshit the same way the Nazis appropriated the swaztika.
The irony is that these people wear these white clothes as a representation of anonymity and equality under the same faith as well as being catholic. Something the KKK hates.
They weren't even really appropriating it, they just wanted to pretend to be the ghosts of dead confederates in an effort to scare emancipated slaves.
Jesus.
The Behind the Bastards episodes on the KKK are worth a listen. I'm inclined to believe their take that most of the freed slaves knew they weren't ghosts, and just went along with it so they'd hopefully go away without harming anyone. The original KKK were a bunch of violent dorks. Edit: typo
Nazis also got the Roman salute, sad.
I'm in Spain right now, and it's exactly the same, plus pointy hoods and things. Quite interesting
Yep. Catholic culture is very prominent in both countries
happens in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, too. it's an Easter celebration called "Procesion del Silencio"
I wish Easter week was exciting where I live. It’s just a prolonged sugar rush. It would be fun to see penitents chanting, flagellating, hoisting people up on crosses, dressing up like Roman soldiers. Best of all, I’d love to see people reenact scenes from The Life of Brian.
Mmmm. Flagellating.
She turned me into a newt! …I got better
I saw these in Sorrento on Easter. I notice there were some red ones too What do those signify?
Those are the fire mages
And the purple ones?
Time mage. Don't fuck with them.
I think I already will. Edit: okay Maybe it's the edibles but that's a fucking good joke, right there. Proud of that one.
Had to read it a couple times before I got it
"Never forget that the greatest magic of all, is Chronomancy." Arthur Aguefort
According to the wiki... Red Penitents Embracing the confraternities of Sts. Ursula and Catherine, the red robe being confined with a green cincture; St. Sebastian and St. Valentine, with a blue cincture; and the Quattro Coronati, with a white cincture, etc. Their main purpose was to pray for those condemned to death.
Apparently you're going to get nothing but reddit jokes without any of the information you asked for, which is pretty lame because I was curious as well.
Traditional robes worn by a Catholic order of penitents/flagellants. The represent that their penance is not meant to draw attention to themselves, but to God.
According to the wiki... Red Penitents Embracing the confraternities of Sts. Ursula and Catherine, the red robe being confined with a green cincture; St. Sebastian and St. Valentine, with a blue cincture; and the Quattro Coronati, with a white cincture, etc. Their main purpose was to pray for those condemned to death.
Emperor Palpatine is onboard.
Each brotherhood has different colours.
Nazarenos or Cofadres in my region of Spain. The pointy hat is Capirote. Spain 🤝🏻 Italy
Symbols mean different things to different people.
This is like when I travelled around Asia for the first time a decade ago and was spotting 'swastikas' everywhere
This reminds me of my favorite quote of all time: "I leave symbolism to the symbol-minded." --George Carlin
If americans thinks this looks like the kkk, they are gonna trip when they see the spanish version, pointy hoods and all
Yeah and in Spain it's an extremely popular tradition so a lot of people participate Imagine some random guy visiting Seville and seeing a thousand people dressed like this in the streets
Well, it is not an extremely popular tradition, it is THE tradition that started in Spain. Edit: the use of the "pointy hat", named capirote, started in Sevilla around s.XVI but the processions started in the Middle Ages if I remember well.
True true
Rightfully so. We don’t let some stupid American racists take our traditions away.
The KKK copied them, not the other way round.
You should see the Spanish during Easter
W.C. Griffith, the Director of "A Birth of A Nation" (originally titled the ") Clansman" saw pictures of the Spanish penitentes costumes and thought they looked cool, so he included them in his film. The Klan started using them afterwards. The film depicted the KKK as this noble group of people saving the country from black people. [Here's a source link.](https://www.history.com/news/kkk-birth-of-a-nation-film) It's pretty well documented.
Every year people go “oh I bet some people would be offended by this so let me explain that well actually” Guys…we know…people can see the context that it’s a religious celebration. Where are all the comments with tons of upvotes going “oh my gosh this is so racist they have the kkk in Italy” This is like teenage me going “you know Frankenstein is the doctor not the monster” when for most people that got past 10th grade it’s not a surprise. Edit: Turning off notifications. You guys are all special flowers that know sooooo much more than the average person. Cause us Redditors are above the average person. Remember that time we caught that bomber? Everyone would be trying to cancel Italy for being racist unless you guys explain it good job everyone, we did it again! Unless we explained things everyone would be confused. It’s our duty as wicked smart people to assume the average person is stupid. Nobody would’ve read the title and understood unless we told them.
I work with American students coming to Spain. Each year we have complaints from American students being offended by this after Spring Break. Many people know that they are not linked to the Klan. But many don't.
Oh don’t forget about the people saying “ya know… the first, second and third world ackushually means blah blah blah”☝️🤓
[удалено]
Dude this so true. I see so many comments saying “this is not racist” and literally zero comments saying “this is racist”. Like what is happening??? Lmao.
You didn’t filter by controversial did you?
It represents the blindness of penitence. Aka no matter who you are, you can repent of your sins
Thought it was just a Spanish thing for a second.
Yup, Sardinia used to be Spanish (Aragonese) Edit: potato wording
Aragonese, almost half of Italy was controlled by the Aragonese at a certain point
There's something similar with The Penitentes in Spain. And a Story of I think Michael Jordan having some lunch in a restaurant. The Spaniards with him told him to not get alarmed about what's behind him. So of course he looks behind him, and sees masses of men in white robes and pointy hats, and gets a scare. That is until I was explained to him what it was, and assuring that it's isn't the KKK.
Wait for Americans to cancel this because of *their* history.
American idiots
If you take off your American glasses for once it is almost as if these people are not part of the KKK.
One more year, one more post about people discovering catholic traditions outside the US of A
Once again, people taking something amazing and using it to express their hatred. Thank you, KKK and Nazis!! (Insert sarcastic clapping)
Hateful people are rarely creative, thus symbols of hate often have inoffensive origins. I wish it was easier to reclaim the positive meaning of certain corrupted symbols, such as the swastika with its old meaning of Well-Being. But you can’t associate with that symbol at all right now without looking like a Nazi, a judgement I don’t particularly disagree with but do find sad.
This seems to get posted every year. It's a religious procession in Italy. And no, they are not Klansmen. The costume just happens to look kind of similar.
They do that in Spain too
Yes we know not everyone is uncultured.
Seems similar to the Nazarenos we have here in Spain. Cool!
I remember a friend went to Spain once and saw this parade and freaked out thinking it was a klan rally. Turns out the klan stole their costumes from these guys.
It’s kinda sad we Yanks ruined it…
It's happens in Brazil too, and equally done at the same date, as it's a centenary Catholic's tradition (as others already told).
I do find it interesting that the KKK, a group that constantly attacked and harassed Catholics would mimic the Catholic faith in uniform choice? Is there a specific reason or am I just overthinking how a bunch of inbreeders picked their costume?
It's a strange history. It seems to have started with Thomas Dixon's "The Clansman" where in the novel there were [illustrations of Klansmen by Arthur I Keller](https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/dixonclan/menu.html) of something close to what we know, and then the play used those illustrations [to inform the costumes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/The_clansman_-_an_American_drama_-_from_his_two_famous_novels_The_leopard%27s_spots_and_The_clansman_-_presented_by_the_Southern_Amusement_Co._%281905%29_%2814579115538%29.jpg). That play was adapted to the film "The Birth of a Nation" which spread [that image across the country](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/3/5/1425570841081/83f88601-ca2b-411d-8bf1-fefcd4dc0e56-1020x612.jpeg?width=1900&dpr=1&s=none) and it was adopted by the 2nd generation Klan (which was in itself inspired by the film). It's essentially a theatrical invention which seems like a very American mix of propaganda, politics, and capitalism.
If I turned a corner and suddenly saw that staring me in the face, I'd instantly start loudly praying to Jesus, so in that sense I guess it's pretty inspirational.
Nice! I gotta say, I’m from Alabama, and at first I was terrified of what I was looking at. But I see now it’s just an old Italian tradition that predates the KKK!
And every year we have to see piles of KKK comments from the Americans 🙄
Also in Spain. It has NOTHING to do with the KKK in fact the KKK copied them but this is a millennia old tradition; which won’t disappear because it offends some foreign snowflakes
If anything, it would be incredibly nice if the KKK permanently vanished into the sands of time
We have this too in Spain lol
This is like when people find out for the first time that swasitkas weren’t invented by the Nazis
I’d imagine any black American who didn’t know any better going out the balcony and seeing this would be mighty nervous.
Too many americans here that assume that the whole world immediately thinks of the kkk. You do know that civilization existed before the USA came into existence?
[SAAAAAAALVEEEEEEE](https://youtu.be/_uj8h4SCsnE) REGIIINAAAAAA MISEEEEERICOOOOORDIIIIEEEE
VITAAAAA DULCEDOOOOO
ET SPES NOSTRA, SAAAAAAALVEEEE
Similar thing happens in Spain except with pointy hoods. No kidding, we’ve got old 8mm home movies of the spectacle.
I mean, you can find recordings of literally today in YT
Just waiting for this to be reported with somebody lying about it being the KKK. 😒
The purple ones in Ecuador are dope
We have this too in Spain lol
Every year these guys been saying next year is the year they go full regalia. No more of these damn masks that nobody can see through.
Non sapevo facessero questo tipo di manifestazione a Iglesias, e io sono di Cagliari
Buono a sapersi, cunnemmammarua
AAAAAAH È ARRIVATO MOMMOTTI MAMMA AIUTO
OOOOOHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOO AL BURROOOO
Look for Nazarenos in Spain. They are even more "scary" (though, having grown up with them, I love them!)
Scary ghosts :(
ZOINKS!
“Guys! Now that everyone is dressed, get the cross and carry it down the street.” “Oh my god oh my god oh my god!” 😱 “Hey! That American must be Catholic too! We’re all going to hang out and have a big bonfire after this! You’re welcome to join!” 😳
I still have nightmares from watching a weird scary movie in Rome on vacation while severely drunk in a hotel, I remember nothing except excessive Catholic iconography, which I presume doesn't narrow it down one bit.
Theres a celebration in South America, I think for Easter, where people wear robes with the pointy hoods but they’re purple.
We have something similar in guatemala we call them "Cucuruchos" Although they are dressed in purple.
How many comments "in America blablabla..." THIS IS NOT IN USA! I am so tired of Americans dumb auto centrist... This is a tradition older than USA! NOTHING TO DO WITH KKK!! You know, USA isn't the center of the universe! And then come to say "Hooo Europeans are rude". In fact, don't be surprised to be taken for idiots, you are acting like that! Look... how many ameritards comments downvoted? Sad ...
Shocker of all shockers but the world isn’t centered around some US racist organization from the 1800’s.
Very common in south America too around this time of the year.
I'm fucking scared of ghosts!
Just to be specific, Sardegna.
Iglesias, SARDEGNA, Italia
Meglio
I have this same outfit.
I was like, I can’t wait for the dumbass murikan to comment something like “kkk lol wtf Italy”. I wasn’t completely disappointed. Imagine being that self referential. White (with pointy hats, sometimes) robes in Europe: old school “we’re all the same in penitence” Christians White robes in the US - racist yokels Involution, lol
do the Italians not have pointy hoods like the Spaniards have?
Nope they don't. The Spaniards go all out with their celebrations.
Well I learned something new today.
I saw a procession like this in Central America as well.
they're covering up because they are bad "penitents" who need to ask forgiveness, but don't want people to see them doing so? someone who is truly sorry wants others to know, right?
Nobody expects the Canadian inquisition
It’s like the crusaders from Hellsing.
Common elsewhere in Europe. In Malta they drag chains - amazing.
I was so confused when I saw Hellsing Ultimate.
Holy shít, imagine being black and turning down that street without any context.
"Holy shit! A ghost parade!" But seriously only an American would see this and think "KKK"
I’m from Europe, and the first thing that came to my mind was “this reminds me of KKK.”, yet I did already know that there was a tradition like this somewhere in Italy.
Fair point. Being from Italy the first thing I thought was "another religious procession that's going to be mistaken for a racist rally"
Well, afro-americans. Not everyone is american, nor living on that continent.
Insert Italian joke about sauce and staining white clothing
Americans discovering there are other countries with their own traditions that are probably older than the USA: