Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Antigua- unlike ANYTHING else

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Capital Region » Antigua
March 15th 2008

Published: May 5th 2008

Steve: "Holy" Sonja: "Seeped in culture" Grace: "Outstandingly beautiful" Lucas: "Surreal" These are the words we have each chosen to describe Semana Santa, or Holy Week. In the weeks since the last procession on Easter Sunday, I have repeatedly gone back to my memories and tried to come to any sort of clarity on how to describe it. Words will likely fail, so this entry is heavy on pictures. ... Read Full Entry

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Sonja Gustafson Trautman

SonjaG

Being an account of the Trautman's year in Antigua, Guatemala Early in our marriage, my husband Steve and I made a decision to "one day" take a year off and learn a new language in an interesting country with our kids. Fast forward to August 2007 and here we are living for almost one year in Antigua, Guatemala. (You can also look at Lucas' blog for his thoughts) Here is what we know so far: 1. Guatemalan people are some of the warmest and kindest people we have ever met. 2. Guatemala is much, much more beautifu... full info

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The nighttime Maundy Thursday procesión

As it passes a local landmark, the Tanques de la Union.

Good Friday procesión in the morning

I was able to jump in front of the sawdust carpet to get a shot just as the procesión was about to walk over it. Take a look at the video showing this scene.

Good Friday procesión in the morning

moments after the procesión goes by, the streetsweepers clean up and a balloon salesman kicks into gear.

Women carrying a Mary float

Young and old together.

The crucified Christ in a glass coffin

Note that people are wiping the glass with cotton balls. They will then take the cotton ball to their homes as a holy relic.

Afternoon Good Friday procesión

Up until noon on Friday, everthing was purple. Then suddenly, a whole bunch of black appeared. Flags in the town square were black, and the robes of the cucuruchos switched to black.

Afternoon Good Friday procesión

At precisely 4pm, the clouds obscured the sun and this procesión with the glass coffin containing a statue of the dead Christ came out.

Afternoon Good Friday procesión

A closer look at the glass coffin containing the statue of the crucified Christ.

A much smaller scene in a little church

of the crucified Christ in a glass coffin, and the mini-Alfombra of vegetables in front.

A family affair

Curcuruchos in a family photo

A robe shop "Tunicas y mas"

which means "Robes and more!" The full outfit can easily cost more than $100, which is a very large sum here. The guy all dressed up in this photo is a manniquin.

Close up of a corn alfombra

This was the only carpet I saw made up of corn, which is extremely symbolic in the Mayan religion.

Going veggie shopping

during our week of cooking lessons during Semana Santa.

Marisol with the kids

during their Semana Santa cooking class. We ate really well during this week!

Resurrection Sunday - the painting in front of the altar

at our church, San Francisco. If you look closely, you can see scenes of indigenous people getting an education (top left) as well as suffering from the war (coffins in the bottom right). The painter of this work is known for his sympathies to the indigenous people and integrating that into the church.

Resurrection Sunday

Float of resurrected Christ leaving a small church. At one point the priest called out "let's have applause" and we all clapped.

Float depicting resurrected Christ

Notice that the float-bearers are no longer in purple, but are wearing their daily clothes.

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Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Antigua- unlike ANYTHING else

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