Video: Easter: Giant 'Judas' burnt in Mexico City This year about a sixteen groups put together the effigies that were burned at midnight on Easter Sunday. Alberto Palacios, whose lead the group creating a 16ft tall figure which opened the night's festivities, said the goal of the celebration was to unite the community and keep old traditions alive. "The significance is to bring people together to preserve (our traditions) and one way or another express the way of thinking of a people," said Mr Palacios. The colourful sculptures, which can weigh up to 600 kilograms (1,322 pounds), are paraded through the hilly streets before being brought the church. The "shimos" can take up to two and a half months to build, and cost up to 60,000 Mexican pesos (£3,200), money that is donated by the local community.