Lent processions are for everyone, men, women, boys and girls. Some processions have floats for everybody, but other times the processional floats are only for the children as in this case. I guess this is how keep the tradition alive, right?
Copal incense and corozo palms provide the main aromas of Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. Corozo palms are sold in the Antigua Guatemala municipal mercado during and around Lent season. As I have said before, Lent and Holy Week in La Antigua Guatemala carry their own set of scents, flavors and colors. I … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Spanish word of the day: Kiosko or Quiosco for kiosk. During Lent and Holy Week, you can find information kiosks peppered all over Antigua Guatemala. If you can’t find one near you, head over the parque central where there are four information booths on each corner of the main square. The people … Read more
How about some broom-head Roman soldiers as a typical sample of the kitsch found during Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. Well, the vigils can also be a very good places to check out the full spectrum of Guatemalan kitsch, don’t you agree?
Lent and Holy Week are traditions for everyone, including children, where boys and girls have processional floats that they can carry. I guess you’re never to young to participate in the longest penitence period of the year in Guatemala.
Here’s your illustrated Spanish word of the day: Alfombra procesional for processional carpet. One of the aspects I really enjoy of the Lent season in Antigua Guatemala is the processional carpets with their aromas, colours, textures and creative designs. I enjoy seeing entires families and blocks of neighbours participating in the creating of the alfombras … Read more
As I mentioned last weekend, the village of Santa Catalina Bobadilla had an early start with its vigil on Saturday, instead of the traditional Ash Wednesday. Well, as it is the tradition in Antigua Guatemala on each week of Lent, a vigil on Wednesday and a procession on Sunday. Here’s the quick look at the … Read more
Here’s you Spanish word of the day: Cuaresma or Lent. Once again, from the early morning reports started to pour in, around 6 a.m., there were sightings of hundreds, no, make it thousands of people with dark markings in their foreheads. The first sightings were reported near the church of San Francisco El Grande, right … Read more
Well, what do you know, the village of Santa Catalina Bobadilla, Antigua Guatemala, decided to have an early start of Lent by holding their velación, vigil, on Saturday, February 6, five days before the commencement of Lent on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Here are a couple images to show you the ambience. Stay tuned for coverage … Read more
Once again it is Domingo de Ramos, or Palm Sunday, in Antigua Guatemala. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Semana Santa [Holy Week] the in Catholic realm. I’ll be covering again the Antigua Guatemala Holy Week Vistas with the goal to cast new light on the subject. Stay tuned! Best wishes for Holy Week/Easter … Read more
As I mentioned yesterday, Cuaresma [Lent] has street food that is sold at the booths outside the church where the velación, vigil, is taking place. Normally, velaciones are held Fridays and Saturdays, sometimes the vigils begin on Wednesdays. Some of this food is also found during other religious celebrations; such is the case with buñuelos, … Read more
And just like that we have arrived to the fifth Sunday of Lent… in other words, the world-famous Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemala is almost here, the first week of April to be precise. I haven’t shared share any Lent photos this year because everywhere I look there millions of Cuaresma images overflowing the photo … Read more
As every Sunday during Lent, Antigua Guatemala gets dress of purple, the color of penitence and the streets become crowded with cucuruchos waiting their turn at carrying the processional float, photographers trying to get yet one more picture of the religious figures and the new processional setups and people full of devotion and awe. For … Read more
Blip, blip, blip! Alert, alert, we break from our regular programming to bring you this important news update. From early in the morning, around 8 a.m., there were sightings of hundreds, no, make it thousands of people with dark markings in their foreheads. The first sightings were reported near the church of San Francisco El … Read more
As I have mentioned it before, Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala come with their own set of aromas, flavors and colors. I can share with you still photos, slide shows, video clips and sounds. However, I can not bring you the smells. As I had said before, the incredible power of the sense … Read more