This was the second time I was alerted about the exotic flower arrangements placed on the fountains prior to a procession or lent activity. I took this photo the day after the procession at Escuela de Cristo. It was a welcoming surprise to learn that cleaning people did not take the flowers away. [gmap]
As Semana Santa, the Holy Week before Easter, approaches, the historic colonial town of Antigua sees almost daily processions. These processions include music, colors… and most importantly floats… that don’t really float, but are heavy wooden depictions of the life of Christ. Because of how heavy these floats are, they often need to be carried … Read more
Guatemala is a colorful country. What, you don’t believe me? Well, Why not check out the Color palette category to see for yourself. For instance, take a look at today’s photo, these are hand-painted traditional Guatemalan balls and they are so colorful. In other parts of the world they are happy with a one or … Read more
The unmistakable thumping that accompanies the processions comes from percussionists beating huge drums with this hummer-like sticks. Do you know the name of the big drums and the piece that serves to bang them?
I can bring to you the colors, the imagery, the sounds and even video clips, but I can’t transmit or transfer you the smells and aromas of the Holy Week. The pungent scents of corozo palms and copal insence you will have to imagine them. Let’s hope that today’s photo can trigger or precipitate forth … Read more
Transference: the action of transferring something or the process of being transferred. With these processions not only the heavy floats are being transferred, but also the culture and the religious fervor. If we delve into the realms of the psychoanalysis, we could talk about transference neurosis; however that’s way too deep and complex for a … Read more
The Cuaresma and Semana Santa season comes with its own set of garments; from the Romans to the Cucuruchos to the Dolorosas (or whatever the name is for the women carrying floats). Here I was lucky to capture the portrait of little devotee accompanying the girls procession. Come back tomorrow if you want to see … Read more
I have honestly tried not put as many Cuaresma/Lent and Semana Santa/Holy Week photos here. I could, in theory, have a Lent/Holy Week photo each day since Ash Wednesday, but this is not a religious website: it is rather a blogumentary of La Antigua Guatemala and as such I try to cover all aspects of … Read more
On the weekends Calle del Arco is turn into a pedestrian strip and several business bring out benches, carts and flowers and plants in huge pots. Lots of people take advantage of these sitting spaces to have their photo taken or simply to take a break. The picture above is another vista that ” …helps … Read more
Often we hear that Guatemala is a country of contrasts. Even I try to show it often and what better way to show the contrasts of Guatemalan women than yesterday’s photograph of capitalinas sporting the latest garments in fashion and today’s picture of three indigenous women wearing the traditional corte or Guatemalan hand-woven skirt. I … Read more
The people from Guatemala City are known as capitalinos; residents of the Capital city. Women from Guatemala City would be capitalinas. La Antigua Guatemala is a popular weekend destination for capitalinos (as) since it’s only an hour separates the Old Guatemala City from the New Guatemala City. So, it is on the weekends that we … Read more
Last Monday 8 of March was celebrated the International Women’s Day through out the world. I believe women should be celebrated everyday, so this week I will be sharing with you photographs of Guatemalan women, each different, but all of them special. We begin the week with the beautiful smile of an usher who welcomes … Read more
I noticed that Prensa Libre, one of Guatemala’s largest and oldest newspapers, was also sponsoring a processional band this past weekend. I guess sponsorships of the Holy Week processions will become commonplace now. How do you feel about private businesses sponsoring religious celebrations and the world famous Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala?
I don’t know if sponsoring the processions for Cuaresma and Semana Santa (Lent and Holy Week respectively) was already common practice in previous years, but I just noticed it. Please, let me know if you have seen sponsorships for Lent and Holy Week before.
