The white pointed hoods worn during Semana Santa originated in the 15th century as a symbol of repentance and humility. Penitents wore them to hide their faces while doing penance—allowing them to remain anonymous before God—with the cone pointing toward heaven.

The KKK appropriated the costume.

April 03, 2026 - 22:43 UTC

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I mean, this is obviously not THE issue with hate groups...but it really does suck that they ruin otherwise innocuous things and turn them into jump scares for people.
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Also, the Klan were so fucking ignorant that as a virulently anti-Catholic org they adopted a Catholic getup.
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White Christian Nationalism 250 🤮
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Ironic that KKK appropriated 15th century Catholic vestments of penitence and remorse to hunt Catholics among so many others they also hated, resented, and murdered.
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The robes were part of the penance for not being Catholic. The incompleteness of the information here obscures the (seeming) rhetorical intent.

So to be clear this symbol of racial hate was borrowed (as an anti Catholic statement) from its also racist origin.
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People who are not Christians are generally familiar with Easter, which celebrates the resurrection.

Most of the preceding Holy Week, however, is focused on humility, penitence, and self-denying love for others.

Rituals performed by Christians can include things like foot-washing and prostration.
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I identify as a pagan now, but I was baptized and confirmed Episcopalian. (My maternal grandfather was an Episcopal minister.)

While I don’t believe in the doctrine, I still find the teachings and many of the stories, symbols, and rituals powerful.

This Catholic Pope draws upon the best of those.
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The processions in Sevilla during Semana Santa are very impressive. People sing, pray, weep, and sometimes everyone stays silent.
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did they actually deliberately/ knowingly appropriate the capirote? I looked into it a while back and couldn't find any evidence that they even had the faintest idea about Spanish Easter traditions or the dress worn by the penitents
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(also, I think the capirote was more about remaining anonymous before your peers and/ or the dreaded Santa Inquisición - the actual big guy in the sky isn't gonna be fooled by a pointy hat)
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The robes also come in a lot of colour schemes - every of the 2 dozen or so hermandads / cofradias in La Laguna, Tenerife looks different.
White isn’t that common.
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Appropriating things is something that group is well known for.
Cultures, clothing, land-masses, people.
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Wow, the symbol on the chest is even similar.
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No shit. Had no idea.
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Meanwhile, we have a president who wished everyone a "Happy Good Friday!"
He's such an embarrassment.
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