Although the event lasts only a few days, the preparations begin several months in advance; everything must be ready for the first Sunday after Holy Week.
An Organizing Committee is formed by the inhabitants of Iztapalapa, who have participated for several years and are highly respected in the community. They are in charge of choosing the actors who will play the main roles of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Pontius Pilate. Many people want a role but must meet the prerequisites such as height, age, civil status, and impeccable conduct.
The role most disputed by the district’s young men is precisely that of Christ because it is a great honor, an example of physical and spiritual strength that not just anyone can undertake.
Representing Christ, even for only a few days, means being acknowledged by the entire community.
The preparation is arduous because an athlete’s physical fitness and great spiritual preparation must bear the whipping and carry a heavy wooden cross along the route.
There is also an important role for the girls of the district, which is very much disputed among them: that of the Virgin Mary. As with the role of Christ, the choice is made among several candidates who have to meet certain physical characteristics and have an exceptional moral position. This choice represents a high honor for the girl chosen and her relatives, as not just anyone is so highly distinguished in public for their generosity of spirit.
