This is the first vigil of the Lent season with its traditional stalls of chicken sandwiches, the batido drink and other meals which are the beginning of the most special and awaited seasons in Antigua Guatemala. —Nelo Mijangos Ésta es la primera velación en el tiempo de Cuaresma que con las ventas tradicionales de panes … Read more
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 … Read more
As Nelo have shown to us this week, many photographers are looking for their unique angle on the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. However, I believe and I am 100% certain that only through Nelo’s lens we get to see Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemala from unique and original vantage points. If you want to … Read more
As shown at the beginning of the series Holy Week Photographers in Antigua Guatemala, being a cucurucho (carrier) and taking photos of the most important event in Guatemala is combining the two passions many us share in Antigua Guatemala. If you want to see hundreds of Holy Week photos and read about all the aspects … Read more
Visitors are also among the photography crows that follow the processions during the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. You can find all kinds of photographers and videographers documenting the fervor and passion of Semana Santa in Guatemala. According to Elizabeth Bell in recent article in Revue Magazine, “Antigua’s celebrations used to be considered second only … Read more
This markings on the streets and sidewalks signal the beginning or end of the different turns of processional floats (andas) which cucuruchos (carriers) are allowed to carry before new carriers take over. Cucuruchos pay for as many turns as they can afford or the amount of penitence they feel they should exercise to the Hermandades … Read more
![Miércoles de ceniza by Leonel [nelo] Mijangos](https://i0.wp.com/antiguadailyphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/120222_v_jes_mil-62_ver.jpeg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1)
The Cuaresma (Lent) period which leads into Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins every year with Miércoles de ceniza (Ash Wednesday). As in previous years, I set myself aside and let my dear friend Nelo share his excellent Cuaresma imagery since he’s quite possibly the person with most photos of Lent and the Holy Week; he’s … Read more
Sábado de Gloria is a quieter day with only small processions carried by women known as Las Dolorosas (The Grief or Suffering women) follwing the Vía Dolorosa. Sábado de Gloria is also the day when Judas’ Will (testament) is read, a sort of farcical speech or a neighborhood chisme speech. Kids and teenagers also play … Read more
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.
Also, today all Stations of the Cross altars will be open and many if not all procession will pay a visit to El Calvario Church, which is located on the southern outskirts of La Antigua Guatemala. El Calvario or Calvary (Golgotha) is the name of the mount on the outskirts of Jerusalem where it’s believe Jesus Christ was crucified. This church with its three arches provides a symbolic representation of the crucifixion; with each arch representing each cross.
Cucuruchos with their purple or violet cone-head rebes are another prominent element of Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemala. Purple is worn as a sign of penitence. As a matter of fact, processions are a sign of penitence as well, heck the whole Semana Santa is a penitent act. Not only Cucuruchos have to observe penitence … Read more
There’s nothing more impressive during the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala than seen these massive floats, andas in Spanish, being carried by 80 to 100 cucuruchos. Click on any of the images to get a slide show started with larger versions of these images. Needless to say we’re in debt with Nelo for sharing these … Read more
The processional carpets are among the most creative and colorful elements of the Holy Week in La Antigua Guatemala. As I’ve mentioned before, the making of carpets from sawdust, pine-needles, flowers, vegetables is a community-forming tradition. People get together by block or near-by neighbors to create the carpets on which the processions will pass by. … Read more
Okay, the 365-day wait is over. The world-famous Holy Week in La Antigua Guatemala is here. Get your cameras ready and join the hundreds if not thousands of photographers and cucuruchos populating the 10-block colonial town of Antigua Guatemala. If under normal circumstances there are plenty of photographers capturing every conceivable vista from La Antigua … Read more
Today’s Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) which means we are at the commencement of the world-famous Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. We carry on our series Antigua Lent Processions thanks to the wonderful imagery of our friend and collaborator Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos who has taken to the task to document every Lent procession in La … Read more
The San Bartolo procession is among the biggest from the Antigua Lent Processions series. In fact, I remember publishing in previous years that San Bartolo and San Felipe procession were the biggest of all the procession in Guatemala. So, I will split the all the photos in two days. When we started the Antigua Lent … Read more