Purple or violet and black are the colors of Lent and the Holy Week. Cucuruchos, float bearers, wear their cone-head purple robes as a sign of penitence. I am offering group and private Holy Week Special Photo Walks. Don’t miss the chance to capture amazing images during one of the most spectacular demonstrations of religious … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Alfombras procesionales for processional carpets. Once again I’ll be offering group and private Holy Week Special Photo Walks. Don’t miss the chance to capture amazing images during one of the most spectacular demonstrations of religious fervor in the world. See sample photos from past years, and … Read more
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Semana Santa [Holy Week] the in Catholic realm. These Palm Sunday bouquets are burned and the ashes kept for next year’s Ash Wednesday forehead crosses. Best wishes for Holy Week/Easter and have a safe vacation, well, those fortunate to have one! Once again I’ll be offering group and … Read more
Finally, after two years of not having any processions in Antigua Guatemala, the government gave the green light to some processions as long as they follow a strict health protocol. Each person participating in carrying the processional float must be fully vaccinated. At each turn where the carrier is switched they must disinfect the carrying … Read more
Now that the Holy Week is over, we found the purple banners and bags of colored sawdust used in the processional carpets being put away in storage until next year.
Since no processions were allowed on the streets due to the pandemic, churches and temples opted to have altars and shrines inside the temples with allegoric themes of the Semana Santa. For instance, for Easter Sunday or Domingo de Resurección as we know it in Spanish, the Parroquia El Calvario set up this simple and … Read more
As I explained earlier, because of the pandemic, processions and all massive events had been canceled. However, some of the activities were still held, such as some carpets around Parque Central and other carpets on Calle del Arco and 4a calle oriente beside the carpets inside the museums. This is one such carpet on Calle … Read more
As I mentioned yesterday, under normal circumstances, we would be experiencing processions as the one shown above. The procession of the «Dolorosas» or «hermanas cargadoras» with their mostly black and white attires make striking image, don’t you agree?
Under normal circumstances, we would be experiencing one of the most photogenic cultural and religious events in the world: The Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. However, because of the pandemic all massive events have been canceled in Guatemala. So I decided to share with you some photographs of vicarious vistas of what the Holy Week … Read more
As I mentioned yesterday, the pandemic has changed how the Semana Santa and other festivities are observed in Guatemala. One of those things is the ephemeral processional carpet, normally created out on the streets, often finishing the design just minutes the procession arrives; nowadays, these processional carpets are being made inside museums and galleries, inside … Read more
The pandemic has disrupted life in Guatemala in so many ways. The religious and cultural manifestations that brought together huge crowds are some of the events that had to be canceled in 2020 and 2021. The magnificent processions during Cuaresma [Lent] and Semana Santa [Holy Week] and everything that came with them were the most … Read more
Once again Domingo de Ramos, or Palm Sunday, was observed in Antigua Guatemala. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Semana Santa [Holy Week] in the Catholic realm. Because of the pandemic, things are done differently, less crowds, observing the health protocols to ensure the safety of everyone. I’ll be covering these unique Antigua Guatemala Holy Week … Read more
Even though Antigua Guatemala is the top destination in the world for the Holy Week celebrations, many destination through out Guatemala also have processions, vigils and decorate the streets with colorful carpets and adorn their houses with vibrant flower bouquets. Of course, the villages of Antigua Guatemala are quite active during Lent and Easter week, … Read more
With all the borders closed, including the airport; all non-essential activities forbidden, including religious services, processions and vigils; plus all gatherings prohibited, a national curfew from 4pm to 4am; all movement between departamentos [provinces or states] blocked and the city of Antigua Guatemala closing its doors to visitors and non-residents we now have quietest Semana … Read more
2020 will be remembered as the quiet year; a year without processions; a year without massive events; a year without crowds. Yet on Palm Sunday, the people of Antigua Guatemala and its villages found a way to manifest their religious fervor and to display their adherence to centuries old traditions by stepping outside their door … Read more