cross-carrying processions, some barefeet, what Christian religious festival was that (Fri 7 March)?

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

I've googled it, checked it in my diary and a few friends' diaries, and nothing came up anywhere. My mum saw a group of people starting a procession in Wimbledon yesterday morning, then we were driving through Berrylands later and saw another procession: someone at the front with a cross & Jesus, followed by others carrying an altar, I believe (looked a bit like a tiny coffin), then a few others carrying crosses on chains. Dressed normally, only some barefeet. Quite an unsettling sight as both locations seemed so incongruous for that kind of procession. I'm v curious to know what it was. Any ideas about any religious festivals this week? Thanks.

Hmmm, not familiar with any specific festivals this week (will go check my Book), but a small coffin could indicate relics so some saints day? Also could be a general Lentern thing I suppose?

Is that Lentern as in Lent? In the Greek Orthodox calendar tomorrow (happens to be a Sunday this year but it's always 9th March) is 40 Martyrs Day. We make "mucenici" which is either a kind of "soup" with nuts and cinnamon, or buns brushed with honey & nuts (depending on which part of Romania). We celebrate people who haven't had a saint's name all year so e.g. my DD2 Heidi whose name isn't from a saint (unless there is a saint Adelheid). I don't know the exact story of the 40 martyrs.

I thought it might be something to do with Lent but it just seemed so odd because they were not near any churches and they were in a part of London that's not too outwardly religious. I think the barefeet aspect freaked me out as it seemed so...hard-core.

Today is apparently St John of God's day (he of the Hospitals), but I would think Lent- however Ic an't find anything in my books on christianity. Could be a smaller church though, commemorating their own saints day or increasingly tehre are immigrant groups with new national traditions that haven't yet been greatly commented on in theological literature- generally, if ti ain't Anglican, Catholic, Greek or Russian orthodox it gets forgotten. Hopefully that will change soon.

Bare feet in this weather- no thanks LOL! very dedicated!

Thanks, Peachy. They looked like they could well have been residents of Wimbledon or Berrylands IYSWIM, white, middle-aged, middle-class, normally dressed, then bang, candles burning and cross carrying.

They may have been on the way somewhere, on a pilgrimage, aiming to get there by Good Friday.

Could be. I suppose the very devout look just like everyone else.

This is one up our way...