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Easter or 'Semana Santa' as they call it in Latin America is a huge celebration in many Catholic countries in Latin America. Antigua, Guatemala is no exception and they celebrate Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit each weekend for a month leading up to the main Semana Santa Holy Week - I've never experienced a lead-up to the Easter weekend quite like it.
Semana Santa is known as the annual Christian celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It was recognized in A.D. 325 at the Council of Nicea by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, where it was determined when it would take place and how to establish this special event.
The colonial city of Antigua is one of the places where tourists and locals alike gather to witness the cultural displays of beautiful and colourful alfombras (flower carpets), as well as daily processions throughout the old town. For the local people it is a special time to get together with family and friends and decorate the streets with alfombras, and view the grand processions throughout the city. The flower carpets are an amazing sight - the locals use coloured sawdust and stencils to create the designs and then decorate them with beautiful seasonal flowers and fruits.
During the street processions, men adorned in purple and black tunics parade through the streets holding large floats, sometimes for as long as ten hours. The men sway together as they carry the floats, with incense being wafted in the air around them. The men wear purple until Friday afternoon. However, after the crucifixion ceremony at noon on Good Friday, they switch their robes to black. Throughout the day, the women tend to wear black and white and then they cover their heads with scarves.
Whereas we have hot cross buns in the UK, the Guatemalans eat a sweet bread loaf with coffee or you can find empanadas filled with sweet milk. Holy treats such as pepian, fish (dried or fried), plantains cooked in mole sauce can be found at the food markets near Iglesia Merced. Street food is also served throughout the festival all over Antigua, such as pupusas, chiles rellanos, tostadas, grilled meats and tacos.
Thousands of people descend on Antigua, so it's a very popular week and I strongly recommended that you book your accommodation in advance to secure one of Antigua's best boutique hotels, such as Panza Verde or El Convento. The cultural displays are really fascinating and after the festivities it is easy to explore other areas such as Lake Atitlan and Peten. Or even a beach extension in Ambergris Caye (Belize).
5th July 2018
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