Abstract
In the study of ritual, children have been largely ignored. Based on a case study of children's participation in the Holy Week processions in Southern Spain, we show how children's input in religious rites has recently increased due to children's changing position in Spanish and Andalusian society. We use this case to argue for the need to pay closer and more systematic attention to children in religious and ritual studies. We claim that by understanding the instrumental and expressive participation of children in religious rites, we may gain more insight into the working and effects of ritual. Children's participation secures the transmission of cultural knowledge, values and social identities, children's characteristics facilitate the use of them as key symbols and children's active agency may increase the effect of ritual and facilitate changes in the performance and meaning of ritual.
