AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com

With this gallery of Semana Santa photos from Antigua Guatemala, Nelo Mijangos shares with us an overview of the many vistas one can expect while following a procession in Antigua Guatemala. For instance, the picture above gives us an idea of the length of the float and how many cucuruchos carry it. Below, we can see that cucuruchos come together in all ages to express their devotion; we get to look at the different figures on top of the floats inside the churches as well as outside; further, we see the different costumes wore during the enactment of the crucifixion, including the Romans with their torches; we get to see the huge crowds as well as the all the people working together to create the world-famous Holy Week alfombras (carpets) from Antigua Guatemala.

In my opinion, Nelo has done an outstanding job bringing to us all the haunting and awe-inspiring imagery of the world-famous Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala, don’t you agree?

photos by Nelo Mijangos

Wednesday night we had the opportunity to listen to The McNally Smith Fusion Ensemble performed for about an hour and a half as part of “XIII Festival de Jazz de Guatemala” at the atrium of the former college of the Compañía de Jesús in Antigua Guatemala. It was a breath-taking performance.

The “XIII Festival de Jazz de Guatemala” started on Friday, March 8, with a performance by Alessio Menconi Trio with Marco Panascia and Paolo Orlandi from Italy, but because I’ve have been overwhelmed with the transformation of the upcoming issue of REVUE magazine, I was not able to attend. Ditto for the show by Beat Kaestli of Switzerland on Thursday night. There is still one more concert by Abe Rábade Trio (Spain) on Saturday night which I do not plan to miss at all. I will bring you an update in this last presentation. Stay tuned!

Check out the photo galley of The McNally Smith Fusion Ensemble concert here: (more…)

Last night was the presentation of Vocal People at Ermita de la Santa Cruz ruins, Antigua Guatemala’s concert venue, as part of the XII Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz. Voca People brought a musical show featuring popular songs by the only means of a cappella and beatbox, sans any other musical instrument. The Saturday night presentation was the first of two performances, being the second show tonight at 7 p.m. at Ermita de la Santa Cruz. This is the first time Voca People visit Guatemala with their unique and engaging show. Once again, Fundación Paiz has brought a first-class show as part of the XII Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz.

Below you can look at a slide show and video clip showing the Voca People performance.

If you’re not in Antigua Guatemala right now, you don’t know what you’re missing. Well, I will help you know what you’re missing by not being in Antigua Guatemala. Let’s start with a photo festival, an orchid exposition, a haunting music nights.

Last Friday night was magical with melodic and enchanting music performed by musicians Ishto Juevez and Ixtapoch Vallenas inside the gardens of the Compañía de Jesús Building in Antigua Guatemala. The weather and temperatures were just perfect, the night was lit by a full moon and the musicians by colourful spotlights that not only highlighted the musicians but also the amazing venue that is the Cooperación Española. Below I share with you some of Ishto Juevez music and video clip for one of his most popular songs and a photo gallery of the night. Enjoy!

Have a happy Guatemalan Independence Day weekend everyone. Enjoy the multimedia material I have compiled for you!

Once again, we have to thank Nelo Mijangos for sharing his photos with us.

Our regular contributor and friend Guy Howard shares his gallery of civic events for September 15 in Antigua Guatemala.

Free into the wind, your beautiful flag!

Guatemala’s National Anthem in English

Happy Guatemala, may your altar
Never be trampled by the tormentor
Nor should slaves lick the yoke
Nor should tyrants spit in your face
If tomorrow your sacred soil
Is threatened by foreign invasion
Free into the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it will call
CHORUS
Free into the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it will call
Since your people, with fiery soul
Will die before becoming slaves
From your old and hard chains
You forged, with an ire-driven hand,
The plow that fertilizes the soil
And the sword that saves honor.
Our fathers fought one day,
Lit up in patriotic burning
And they were able, without bloody clash,
To place you on a throne of love.
And they were able, without bloody clash,
To place you on a throne of love,
That our Nation, in energetic assent,
Gave life to the ideal redeemer.
Your emblem shows a piece of the sky
In which a cloud gets its whiteness
Wretched is he who dares in madness
stain your colors
Well, your brave and proud sons
who admire the peace within
will never avoid the rough battles
if they are to defend their land and their home.
CHORUS
They will never avoid the rough battles
if they are to defend their land and their home
that honor is the idea that reigns their souls
and the altar of the mother country their altar
Lying in the magnificent Ande
with two oceans at hearing distance
under the wing of seeds and gold
you become entranced from the beautiful quetzal
Native bird that lives in your seal
protector that protects your soil
hopefully he will fly high
more than the condor and the royal eagle!
CHORUS
Hopefully he will fly high
more than the condor and the royal eagle
and in his wings, raise up to the sky:
Guatemala, your immortal name!

Himno Nacional de Guatemala en español

¡Guatemala feliz…! que tus aras
no profanen jamás el verdugo;
ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.

Si mañana tu suelo sagrado
lo amenaza invasión extranjera,
libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará.
CHORUS:
Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará;
que tu pueblo con ánima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo será.
De tus viejas y duras cadenas
tu forjaste con mano iracunda
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.
Nuestros padres lucharon un dí­a
encendidos en patrio ardimiento
y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor.
CHORUS:
Y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor,
que de Patria, en enérgico acento,
dieron vida al ideal redentor.
Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo
en que prende una nube su albura,
y ¡ay de aquel que con ciega locura,
sus colores pretenda manchar!
Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos,
que veneran la paz cual presea,
nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar.
CHORUS:
Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar,
que es tan solo el honor su alma idea
y el altar de la Patria su altar.
Recostada en el Ande soberbio,
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal.
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladión que protege tu suelo;
¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real!
CHORUS:
¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real,
y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,
Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal!

Source: Wikipedia.org

As in previous years, even Google celebrated Guatemala’s Independence Day with a Doodle.

Today was the day. Today Fuego Volcano stole the spot lights with the largest pyroclastic activity seen in recent times. The arrest of Antigua Guatemala’s Mayor and ten other people accused of corruption and taking public funds took a second stage. On the other hand, the Antorchas de la Independencia, Independence Torches continue arriving and leaving Antigua Guatemala with the Independence flame. There were also civics acts in Parque Central along a fashion and design show. Last but not least, Bohemia Suburbana, one of Guatemala’s most popular rock bands, reunited after 12-year separation for a concert in the Ermita de la Santa Cruz.

Un día lleno de noticias en La Antigua Guatemala. La noticia mas llamativa fue sin duda que el Volcán de Fuego ya que se robó toda la atención y el arresto del alcalde Adolfo Vivar pasó casi desapercibido. Otras noticias del día fueron que las antorchas de la Independencia siguieron llegando a La Antigua Guatemala y saliendo en maratones con la llama de la Independencia. También hubo un desfile de modas y diseño en el Parque Central y otros actos cívicos. Por último, en la noche Bohemia Suburbana tendrá un concierto de reunión después de 12 años de separación en La Ermita de La Santa Cruz.

Here’s a time-lapsed video created by Nelo Mijangos.

Here’s the sequence of photographs I took around 10:15am.

And here’s the series of photos I took about the Ministerio Público, MP, the General Attorney officers collecting computer evidence.

And short fragment of Guatemala’s National Anthem.

Last, the designer girls and their models ready to begin their fashion show in Parque Central.

The traditions of Guatemala are kept alive by the faith and fervor of the people and that’s exactly what Nelo wanted to show with this slide show. People fully committed to their passion, believes and faith. People participating in all aspects of the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala, the largest manifestation of its kind in the world.

Nelo shared with me an interesting trivia: the only reason they don’t build bigger processional floats, andas precesionales, is because they can not turn in the narrow streets of La Antigua Guatemala. Of course, as Eric would say, where there’s a will, Guatemalans will find a way… so, stay tune.

In the meantime, enjoy the Semana Santa slide show that Nelo has prepared for us and if you’re looking for additional photos and in-depth information about the world famous Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala, take a tour through the Holy Week and Lent categories.

Come on everyone, let’s give Nelo an up-standing ovation for having shared with us his marvelous and unique perspective on the Holy Week in our beloved Antigua Guatemala.

All photos for this entry by Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos