Holy Week Knocker | Processional Hammer

Holy Week Knocker | Processional Hammer

• Knocker for Holy Week statue.
• Made of bronze.
• Gold finish.
• Base of 24 x 7 x 0.8 cm (9.45 x 2.76 x 0.31 in).
• Total height of 16 cm (6.30 in).
• Hammer in the shape of a Cross:
  • 24 cm (9.45 in) long.
  • 15 cm (5.91 in) high.
  • 2 cm (0.79 in) diameter.
• Base decorated with raised vegetal elements.
• Another Holy Week knocker available.

Holy Week Knocker

The Holy Week knocker is an essential element in processional statues.

Knockers, also known as hammers, are pieces of Catholic metalwork (door knockers or ring knockers) that are usually installed on the front part of Holy Week statues, at the center of the front beam or on the side grilles. Their strategic position allows the foreman to use them easily and ensures that the sound is audible to all the costaleros.

The knocker plays a very important role on two levels. On one hand, it serves as a guide for the confraternity members during the procession, and on the other, it has a symbolic and representative function.

The Knocker as a Tool for the Foreman

Holy Week processions are Catholic celebrations that commemorate significant events such as the Entry into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, etc. During the processions, confraternity members bring out their statues so that Holy Week enthusiasts can admire these pieces of Catholic art.

Confraternities are often large groups with many members. During processions, the members are divided into different roles according to their function in the procession.

Thus, the costalero confraternity members are responsible for carrying the Holy Week statues on their shoulders or on the back of their necks.

The nazareno confraternity members are those who accompany the Holy Week statues. They usually wear a hood and a tunic with the colors and embroidery of their confraternity.

The penitent confraternity members are those who perform acts of penance by carrying wooden crosses or walking barefoot. They typically wear tunics and masks, but not hoods.

All these elements in the procession must be coordinated throughout the route. One of the most important tools for this is the knocker. The foreman, the person in charge of leading the team of costaleros, uses specific pre-established words and knocks on the knocker to communicate the different actions that must be carried out: lifting the statue (known in some places as "la levantá"), starting the march, turning, etc.

The foreman's skill in giving precise orders and making the correct knocks on the knocker ensures proper synchronization among the costaleros. This results in smooth and fluid movements of the Holy Week statue, allowing spectators to fully appreciate the images on the statue.

The Knocker as a Symbol of the Confraternity

The knocker’s role as a key element in communication and coordination within a procession has led it to become a highly valuable piece of metalwork within a confraternity.

In most brotherhoods, the knocker has evolved from a functional tool into an identity symbol, a distinctive emblem of the confraternity itself.

Many traditional knockers have been replaced with pieces that bear the characteristic features of the confraternity. It is common to find knockers with the confraternity’s crest, depictions of their sacred images, crosses, etc.