Sophia Fernandes, a member of the Kalunga quilombo, the descendants of runaway slaves, dons traditional afro braids, during the culmination of the week-long pilgrimage and celebration for the patron saint “Nossa Senhora da Abadia” or Our Lady of Abadia, in the rural area of Cavalcante in Goias state, Brazil, Saturday, August 13, 2022. Devotees celebrate Our Lady of Abadia at this time of the year with weddings, baptisms and by crowning distinguished community members, as they maintain cultural practices originating from Africa that mix with Catholic traditions. (Photo by Eraldo Peres/AP Photo)

A golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopitheque de Roxelane) looks through its enclosure after quarantine during its presentation at the Beauval Zoopark in Saint-Aignan Central France, on May 7, 2025. ZooParc de Beauval (Loir-et-Cher) welcomed three golden snub-nosed monkeys on April 3, 2025, an endangered species from China, as part of a conservation program, becoming the first zoo outside Asia to house these long-haired, red-furred primates with bluish faces. (Photo by Guillaume Souvant/AFP Photo)

Cemetery workers repaint tombs inside the municipal cemetery in Navotas city, north of Manila October 29, 2015. Filipinos are preparing to celebrate All Saints Day on November 1 by visiting the graves of their departed loved ones. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Reuters)

During the feudal times, the society was very structured where everyone knew their place. Fishermen knew that they would always have to bend their knee for highborn ladies and gentlemen, while the latter considered themselves to be far too superior to even look at the common folk. Mont Saint-Michel is a living memorial of those times. Its structural composition clearly reflects the structure of feudal society: The monastery and abbey were built on the highest point; housing and stores were built some distance below; finally, fishermen’s and farmer’s houses were constructed, not even being within the city walls, making them the most vulnerable to the possible attack.

Revellers celebrate moments before the rocket fire or “Txupinazo” marks the start of the Festival of San Fermin (or Sanfermines) at Consistorio square in Pamplona, Spain, 06 July 2014. The annual nine day long running-with-the-bulls fiesta commemorates St. Fermin, Pamplona's patron saint. (Photo by Javier Lizin/EFE)

A farmer uses a GoPro as he takes a picture of his carabao kneeling during the annual Carabao Festival in Pulilan, Bulacan in northern Philippines May 14, 2015. Water buffalos, locally known as carabaos, are led during a parade in the streets of the town to honour its patron saint San isidro Labrador, and carabaos will kneel in front of the church to give thanks for a year-long bountiful harvest. (Photo by Lorgina Minguito/Reuters)

A voodoo believer, dressed as "Gede", a spirit of voodoo, sits on the cross of Baron Samdi during celebrations at the cemetery of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 1, 2016. Voodoo believers and devotees offer candles, alcohol and food. The Day of the Dead is celebrated on the first two days of November during All Saints and All Souls Day. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)

A Pablo Picasso papier mache “huge head” mask, known as “Capgros” in Catalan, is displayed at the entrance of the “El Ingenio” shop on August 23, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. “El Ingenio” (The Ingenuity) has been making and selling papier mache giant masks and huge heads for Catalan popular festivals since 1838. The “La Merce” festival will be held on September 24 to observe the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, patron saint of Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)