Sunday, April 1, 2007

Semana Santa

Every year during Easter the hills of Guatemala come alive as thousands of Maya celebrate Semana Santa, Maya Holy Week. Antigua, Guatemala is home to one of the world's largest Holy Week celebrations. Processions begin on Ash Wednesday and continue throughout lent every Friday and Sunday. Semana Santa culminates in a joyous resurrection procession on Easter Sunday

On Palm Sunday, the men in the cofradia, or brotherhood, wear traditional Maya costume as they recreate Christ's entering Jerusalem. They carry an anda, which is like a float, decorated with palms through the streets of Guatemala. The anda moves through the marketplace towards the church. People gather outside the church and witness the anda of Christ decorated with palms as it is carried passed them.
Hosanna in the Highest

The processions is the first of many during Semana Santa. But more info on the rest to come........

No comments: