You would think that the crews that hump the Semana Santa thrones around would be champing at the bit, but not so, for some at least.

No, some of the brotherhoods are having a hard job at finding volunteers to join the Vatican Furniture Removal Company. This is because the idea of being enclosed below with a dozen or so other people coughing and spluttering doesn’t sound a healthy idea.

Let’s face it, when they’re staggering up hill with half of Jerusalem 33 AD nailed to the lid, not many masks are going to remain in place. Getting oxygen down past your lung-input valve is going to get priority over protecting your fellow throne bearers from your industrial-ventilator-like breathing.

Take the case of Berja where the brotherhoods of El Nazareno and El Silencio can’t begin any practice sessions because they can’t find the costaleros.

The Cofradía del Silencio del Santísimo Cristo de Cabrilla, which was founded in 1992, whose chief wallah, Ana Belén Escobosa, complains, “right now we have 26 costaleros but we need 40 in order to take the throne out.”

So there you have it, if you fancy nipping off to Berja in Almería in order to trundle a bulky piece of topside-cluttered, furniture around the town… they will be very pleased to see you.

(News: Berja, Almeria, Andalucia)