I can’t believe it was last Sunday, Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday when we had the last procession of Cuaresma and Semana Santa, Lent and Easter week. Yet, as I pointed out earlier this week, some of the decoration are still hanging. Here you can see the decoration that adorned the inside of the parish … Read more
These decorative banners hanged on Good Friday are still hanging this week at Panadería San Martín. Yeah, it is hard for panzas verdes to let go of the Semana Santa. On the other hand, I am glad these Easter decorations are still hanging since it gives me an opportunity to share them with you. One … Read more
Can you believe that everyday this week I shared with you images of Semana Santa and except for a section of float in the portrait a cucurucho carrying his daughter, I actually never showed you a procession. Well, Domingo de Resurección, Easter Sunday, is the last day of the Semana Santa, so might as well … Read more
Before we wave goodbye to the Semana Santa coverage, how about a couple of pictures of details such as this carpets with a bird made out of oranges and mice made from red radishes? The alfombras procesionales, or processional carpets, are such creative ephemeral art, often completed within minutes of the passing of the procession … Read more
As I have been showing you each day this week, Semana Santa is a family religious event. It is also a time for bonding with sons and daughters while passing along the traditions of Guatemala. This Good Friday I share with you the portrait of cucurucho carrying his daughter while carrying the processional float from … Read more
Cucuruchos learn the process from very early age, many of them as babies dress up and are carried by fathers and mothers who instill in them the devotion and importance of participating in the religious traditions of Antigua Guatemala, processions being the most visual and public of all. Back on February I had already shared … Read more
As I have been saying the last few days, Semana Santa is a week of family time. Every member of the family involved somehow in the religious traditions of Antigua Guatemala. Such is the case here where a mother embraces her Dolorosa daughter who was ready to carry the processional float of the Virgen de … Read more
Entire families enjoy the processions of Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemala. Often the entire family participate in different activities from making carpets, to carrying the floats or even taking pictures of the other family members participating in one of the many happenings of Easter.
The traditions of Antigua Guatemala are passed on to a new generation that would keep them alive. The elaboration of processional carpets is one such tradition that still very prominent with the younger generation.
We kick start the Semana Santa with the procession of Jesús Nazareno of La Merced around 9am this Palm Sunday morning. Below I leave you short video clip of the procession as it made its way out of the atrium of Iglesia La Merced. I captured this video while leading a Easter Photo Walk. If … Read more
Domingo de resurrección or Easter Sunday marks the end of the Holy Week. We wave goodbye to the processions, the carpets and all the purple and black robes for now. Of course, in Antigua Guatemala they will begin the preparations for Lent and Holy Week 2018 already. As some of you may know, this year … Read more
The passion and devotion that goes into making the processional carpets is incredible. Often we only mention how long it takes to elaborate the carpet at its spot, but we forget to mention all the time that it took to get everything ready. For instance, how about the time collecting all those flowers and then … Read more
The Processional Marching Bands provide the sonorous aspect of Lent and Holy Week processions with the sorrowful notes. The music touches every fiber of the those present, especially the big heavy drums. The musicians are among the only people who get paid in the processions. Once again I made a time-lapse video to share with … Read more
Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemala gives everyone a chance to participate. Even the children get their procession. One for boys and another for girls. Cucuruchos start carrying the floats at an early age and that’s how the traditions is passed on for generations. If you have never experienced the Easter week in Antigua Guatemala, you … Read more
One of the most important lessons we can take from experiencing the Holy Week in Guatemala is the many different ways of being human. And let’s be clear, this is not better or worse, just different, positively different, I may add! For instance, all along the processional routes one receives so many good vibes from … Read more