Theburning of Judas is anEaster-time ritual that originated in European^[1]Christian communities where aneffigy ofJudas Iscariot is burned. Other related mistreatment of Judas effigies include hanging, flogging, and exploding with fireworks.^[2][3]

Though the custom is not an official part of the Easter liturgical cycle, in some communities it is part of the reenactment of the story of thePassion practiced by the faithful during Easter. Details vary, but the effigy of Judas is typically hanged (reenactingMatthew 27:5) onGood Friday, then burned on the night of Easter Sunday.

In many parts ofLatin America this practice occurs on the eve of the New Year as a symbol of ridding one's self of evil and beginning a new year in spiritual purity. Some communities observe this ritual using various effigies, including the biblical Judas (who betrayedJesus). This custom, during which the effigy is burned on a stake, is called "Quema del Judas" ("the burning of Judas") in Uruguay and Argentina, and "Quema del Año Viejo" ("the burning of the old year")^[4] in other places.

The burning of Judas was once widely practiced across theChristian world inEngland,^[5]Greece,^[6]Mexico,^[7]Brazil,^[8]Portugal,^[9]Germany,^[10]Austria,^[11]Czech Republic,^[12]Slovakia,^[13]Poland,^[14][15][16]Spain,^[17][18]Uruguay,^[19]Venezuela,^[20]Chile,^[21]Peru,^[20]Costa Rica,^[22]Cyprus where it is called 'lambratzia',^[23] thePhilippines,^[24]Paraguay—where it is called 'Judas kái',^[25]Nigeria,^[20] and elsewhere. These folk traditions are still practiced today in many of those countries.^[16][26][11]

The Czech tradition of drowning and burning an effigy of Judas (vodění Jidáše) is still practiced in a number of villages in thePardubice Region. The Czech mint issued a gold coin in 2015 to commemorate this folk custom,^[27] which was nominated forUNESCO protection as part of that nation's cultural heritage.^[28]

Judas burnings also took place in the district ofDingle, inLiverpool,England, in the early and mid-twentieth century, but was often stopped by the police.^[29] In Liverpool's South End bands of children still practiced this custom in the late twentieth century.^[30] The burning of Judas is not traditional to England, although a very similar custom ofburning Catholic rebel Guy Fawkes in effigy exists. The practice of burning an effigy of thePope Paul V also continues to exist in England, where as many as 50,000 Protestants gather onBonfire Night in Lewes to observe the festivities.^[31]

The tradition is featured in the 1974 Venezuelan homonymous filmLa quema de Judas (English:The burning of Judas).^[32]

Stoning of the Devil - a similar ritual performed by Muslim pilgrims during Hajj.

• Wikibooks:The Golden Bough/The Fire-Festivals of Europe

• Antisemitism in Europe
• Passion plays
• Judas Iscariot
• Christianity and antisemitism
• Traditions involving fire

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