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Christians are by no means strangers to reenactments of Bible scenes – everyone's been in or seen a nativity play.
But a minority of very, very dedicated Christians in the Philippines have a tradition of reenacting the Holy Book in an altogether more violent and gruesome way than listless primary school children meandering around a school hall stage could ever imagine.
In a tradition dating back to at least the 1950s, religious Filipinos recreate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with real crucifixions of their own in cities and towns across the country, every Good Friday.
It isn't exactly clear how this became an annual fixture in the calendar on the Philippines – appearing to be a way of atoning for your sins, it may have started as a single case and grown to become a group, then town, activity.
Beginning with a brutal, bloody bout of self-flagellation, the repentant Catholic Filipinos – often dressed like Jesus with a wig, (sometimes) fake beard and a thorny wreath – are then nailed, like Jesus was said to in the Bible, to a cross upon a hill by men in full Roman centurion garb.
Unlike Jesus, they don't die, disappear, come back three days later and then go away again.
But it is, nonetheless, a radical way to celebrate Easter and to repent your sins in the eyes of the Lord, which is why, according to Filipino newspaper The Philippine Star, Catholics in the country are being urged to not take part in the celebrations, with armed police prepared to begin breaking up any crucifixions that may occur.
They were warned the previous year, too, but it appeared to make very little difference.
While those who engage in the celebrations are hurt, there's very little risk of death as the crucified are only left up for a number of hours before coming down.
Many have had themselves crucified on multiple occasions. As one said last year, after his sixth: "I feel very fresh, like a new-born baby. I can't feel any pain."
No specific part of the Catholic church endorses the tradition, while the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phillipines (CBPC) doesn't appear to expressly tell those wishing to participate that they should avoid crucifying themselves.
"We do not judge and condemn but we discourage it. There might be some who have made a vow (of getting nailed on the cross) and if they don’t do it, they will feel guilty,” its president, Archbishop Jose Palma said.
The crucifixions will likely go ahead again this year, so expect to see more of this:
Catherine Newhouse: Remembering Rwanda on Good Friday
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The Huffington Post UK | By Charlie Lindlar Posted: 6/04/2012 06:19 Updated: 6/04/2012 06:19