Disturbing images of dangerous and strange Spanish Catholic festival [PHOTOS]

El Colacho or Baby Jumping is a traditional Spanish practice dating back to 1620.

The festival takes place annually to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ) in the village of Castrillo de Murcia near Burgos, in Spain.

The practice, known as El Salto del Colacho (the devil's jump) or simply El Colacho, involves men dressed as the Devil (known as the Colacho) jump over babies born during the previous twelve months of the year who lie on mattresses in the street. The act is deemed dangerous by number of organizations and certain sections of the public.

The act is traditionally meant to cleanse the newborns of original sin. Pope Benedict had asked priests in Spain to distance themselves from the El Colacho. 

Source: REUTERS

Source: REUTERS

Source: REUTERS

Babies are cared for by their mothers on a mattress during traditional Corpus Christi celebrations in Castrillo de Murcia, near Burgos, northern Spain. Source: REUTERS

Source: REUTERS

Source: REUTERS