Cutud Lenten Rites 2008 in Pampanga

Posted by Enrico Dee on March 24, 2008

Many foreigners call this rites bizarre. Some think its weird. While others think it’s just for a show. The Cutud Lenten Rites is an old Kapampangan Good Friday Tradition. It started way back 1950′s as a dramatization of the Lord’s Suffering where the script was written by an amateur writer in the Kapampangan dialect.

During those times not a single drop of blood came out from the actors’ body. It was only in the 1960′s when the actor playing the role of Jesus Christ volunteered to be nailed to the cross. Since then, not a single Good Friday has passed without a hand getting nailed on the cross.

For the people of San Pedro Cutud, San Fernando Pampanga this ritual is religious in nature. It was only recently when the local media as well as the foreign press noticed this unique Lenten rites. Many people could not even believe that there are people who volunteers to be crucified. And because of this new spread all over the world.

And this Good Friday 2008, I have decided to go to Cutud to witness this one of kind Lenten Rites. It was crazy. Honestly, I can no longer see the solemnity of the event. With throngs of crowd swelling up to fifteen thousand, It is a rarity to find someone in a reflective mood. Most are just eager to see the crucifixion act and that’s all about it. It was like a circus.