Prioress Procession in Spain

Every year during the spring season in the old village of Santo Domingo de La Calzada, people take to the streets to honor Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109).

The "Prioress Procession" honors the saint who is said to have who helped poor people and pilgrims. Every year during the procession, ''Las Prioras'' (Prioresses) hold on their head a basket covered with white cloth and dress in black while they walk in honor of the saint. 

AP photographer Alvaro Barrientos was on assignment at this year's event and below is a gallery of his work. 

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Participant of 'Prioress Procession', prepare to take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Every year during spring season, ''Las Prioras'' (Prioresses) hold on their head a basket covered with white cloth and dress in black while they walk past along of this old village in honor of the saint. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participant of "Prioress Procession" prepare to take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A participant of the "Prioress Procession" prepare to take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.  (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A participant holds on a white basket a piece of bread during the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.  (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Dancers who will accompany the "Prioress Procession" pose inside of the house Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), a saint who helped poor people and pilgrimage, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Every year during spring season, ''Las Prioras'' (Prioresses) hold on their head a basket covered with white cloth and dress in black while they walk past along of this old village in honor of the saint. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A priest blessing branchs of holm oak during the ''Bunch Procession'' in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.  (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Raul Barquin carries a baton with the religious figure of the Domingo de La Calzada Saint before the '"Prioress Procession", the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participant of ''Bunch Procession'' walk along the old street with two brown cows in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017.  (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A medallion is seen on the neck of a dancer with the figure of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of the "Prioress Procession"take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants carry giant bread on donkeys as they take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of  the "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Participants of  "Prioress Procession" take part in the ceremony in honor of Domingo de La Calzada Saint (1019-1109), who helped poor people and pilgrims, in Santo Domingo de La Calzada, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

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