Good Friday in Huelva was marked by a significant incident during the procession of the Holy Burial Brotherhood. A critical shortage of 'costaleros' (float bearers) for the float of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias necessitated an emergency mobilization to ensure the image could complete its route without mishap.

This event is not an isolated incident but underscores a persistent problem that the city's official brotherhood has failed to resolve. The situation has raised concerns, potentially becoming a point of tension between the Council of Brotherhoods and the Huelva City Council, given the poor image projected of Huelva's Holy Week.

The immediate cause of the problem arose minutes before the procession departed from the Ermita de la Soledad. Only 40 'costaleros' attended the initial call, a number already at the minimum limit to safely move the heavy float. Tension escalated when some committed members failed to show up, leading 15 other 'costaleros' to abandon the float on Paseo Santa Fe, leaving the team with only 20 members. This drastic reduction caused dangerous swaying of the float, known as «dar canoa» in brotherhood jargon, due to fatigue and lack of uniform effort.

In response to the emergency, the president of the Council of Brotherhoods and Guilds, Antonio González, and the brotherhood itself, issued an urgent appeal for help via social media and local television. The response from Huelva's 'costalero' community was crucial, with members from other brotherhoods, such as Descendimiento and Fe, joining the procession on streets like José Nogales and Palos, allowing the Virgen de las Angustias to complete her penitential station with the required dignity.

This situation had a precedent in 2024, when the brotherhood faced a severe planning crisis that resulted in the loss of more than half of its team. On that occasion, the solution came from the Huelva Local Police, who volunteered to carry the float. Although this gesture allowed the procession to proceed, it did not establish a stable base of 'costaleros', leaving the institution constantly reliant on external aid and improvisation.

The chronic shortage of 'costaleros' in the Holy Burial Brotherhood is attributed to the sociology of Huelva's 'costaleros'. While neighborhood brotherhoods offer a more «joyful» carrying style with music, the Holy Burial Brotherhood imposes a protocol of extreme sobriety and liturgical rigor, which is less appealing to young people. Furthermore, carrying the Holy Burial float is physically more demanding, with the «paso de rúa» or «paso de entierro» requiring prolonged effort, and Good Friday being one of the last days, when many 'costaleros' are already exhausted.

The long-term solution involves fully integrating 'costaleros' into the brotherhood's life, fostering an emotional bond beyond physical effort. History and official status are not enough to guarantee a procession; a committed human base is required, which means avoiding treating 'costaleros' as mere «flesh engines».