Sanbenito

An alternative etymology by Covarrubias and former editions of the Diccionario de la lengua española has it from saco bendito "blessed sack".

[4] Mexican writer and historian Luis González Obregón [es] describes the three basic types of tunic used to distinguish those being punished by the Inquisition.

The samarra was painted with dragons, devils, and flames amongst which the image of the prisoner could be distinguished, signifying that the impenitent heretic was condemned to be burnt alive at the stake.

The fuego revolto was painted simply with flames pointing downwards, signifying that the heretic who became penitent after being condemned was not to be burnt alive at the stake, but was to have the mercy of being strangled before the fire was lit.

The heretics, found guilty by the inquisitors, had to walk in the procession wearing the sambenito as a Shirt of Flame, the coroza, the rope around the neck, the rosary, and in their hands a yellow or green wax candle.