Officials in the Philippines have just issued health warnings for people to get tetanus vaccinations before they ... flagellate themselves and are nailed to the cross!
Previously on Neatorama: Filipino CrucifixionThat's because on Good Friday dozens of devout Catholic Filipinos re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in a very real way:
The health department has strongly advised penitents to check the condition of the whips they plan to use to lash their backs, the Manila Times newspaper reports.
They want people to have what they call "well-maintained" whips. [...] And they advise that the nails used to fix people to crosses must be properly disinfected first. Often people soak the nails in alcohol throughout the year.
In the northern city of San Fernando alone there will be three separate improvised Golgothas - the biblical name for the hill where Jesus was crucified.
Four people there have pledged to have their feet and hands nailed to wooden crosses, while others will flog themselves while walking barefoot through villages.
But in my city, volunteers are always drunk before the penitensiya starts so it's sort of funny.
p.s.
A part of this entry's title should be Philippine Officials. not Philippines Officials. :)
What I can't understand is that if you're going to have yourself nailed to a cross, why would you even be thinking about tetanus or any other infection?