As I have mention before, do not underestimate the power of catholic imagery. You see, the world-famous Antigua Guatemala processions are about showing the devoted images as a reminder and representation of the crucifixion of Jesus. In colonial times, when the citizens of Santiago de Guatemala, now Antigua Guatemala, refused to move to the new … Read more
Violet or purple and black are the colours of Lent and the Holy Week. Cucuruchos, bearers, wear their cone-head purple robes as a sign of penitence. Not only Cucuruchos have to observe penitence for the Lent (Cuaresma) and the Holy Week (Semana Santa), but they also have to pay if they want to get a … Read more
Lent and Holy Week are an equal opportunity events where everyone gets a chance to participate and carry the floats. Hermanas cargadoras, sometimes referred to as Dolorosas, children and Cucuruchos, or hermanos cargadores, of course. But Also the Roman soldier get a chance to carry the float or anda as it is called here. In … Read more
You know you’re in Antigua Guatemala during the Lent season when you find cucurucho decorations everywhere. Many places also burn copal or have corozo providing the aromas of the season.
Thanks to the Special Lent Photo Walks I am leading on Sundays during Cuaresma and Semana Santa I am able to bring you the coverage of processions and everything else I come across. For instance, this time I am sharing two small video clips recorded near Iglesia La Merced that shows you the cadence and … Read more
Every Sunday of Lent I am leading some very special photo walks, from 2pm to 5pm, and during the Holy Week, from 2pm to 5pm, themed around the elements of the Holy Week. These photo walks start with an information-packed presentation defining the different elements of Lent and the Holy Week and then we hit … Read more
We wave good-bye to Semana Santa 2016 with the most emblematic image found during the Holy Week: The Selfie. As every year, I always like to share with you my impressions about the bad and ugly of the Holy Week. That’s right folks, this year more than others, selfies are the most common seen vista … Read more
The Holy Week is almost over. I have a few dozen photographs such as this one in my archives now. Tomorrow, Domingo de Resurrección or Domingo de Pascua [Easter Sunday], the last procession will come out. I will try to cover it in more intimate manner, to create a cozy atmosphere. Stay tuned for the … Read more
Good Friday, good vibes. That’s how I can summarize the sensations most people feel while spending a few hours during the Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala. Everything that came before it was a preparation for Good Friday. Starting on Easter Monday we begin the process again to be ready for Good Friday 2017. Here I … Read more
Today was a good day, well make it a Good Thursday since we are in the Holy Week. A day full of photo walks, lunch with good friends from Florida and then privileged access to the second floor of Palacio del Ayuntamiento, or Muni as we shorten it in Guatemala. Once again I had the … Read more
I always wondered where do Roman soldiers and cucuruchos [coneheads] refuel for the tremendous amount of energy required to do a full procession. Well, the mystery is solved. Whenever they can, they stop by a tiendita to buy tortrix and pop sodas. I imagine that if they can find panes con chille relleno or frijoles, … Read more
On Good Monday, from the finca “La Chacra” comes out the procession of Jesús Nazareno del Santo Viacrucis. This is a small procession, thus, it can go in and out of alley ways and streets that normally don’t see a procession. For these photographs, I am experimenting with long exposure times to see at what … Read more
Here’s the exit of La Reseña procession from Iglesia de La Merced in Antigua Guatemala. On Palm Sunday one of the most important processions leads its way for many hours through the streets of Antigua Guatemala. This procession is known as “La Reseña” of “The Revue” as it’s an overview of the life of Jesus … Read more
So, finally we have arrived at Domingo de Ramos, Palm Sunday. Even though I have shared a few photographs and posts during Lent, I have try to share slices of daily life that for the most part don’t include Lenten imagery because there’s an over abundance of this kind photos flowing through the social media … Read more
As I mentioned yesterday, Lent and Holy Week are an equal-opportunity events where everyone can participate, including little boys and girls barely walking as we can see here. I hope you enjoy this street portrait of a tiny cone head in the making. If you want to learn more about the processions, the lenten events … Read more