Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Antigua

We have really enjoyed the Easter season here in Antigua it has been so interesting. Last Sunday we went to a procession. I was able to look up some of the significances before we went so when the kids asked, what are they doing?, and what is that? I could actually answer their questions.

Semana Santa ( Holy Week or Easter) is the last week of lent. It follows Jesus from Palm Sunday to His death on Good Friday in preperation for His rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. You can see they are holding pictures representing each scene.

All the purple is a sign of penitence. The men in the purple robes pay to carry the procession float.

The processions completely bombard the senses. The incense is used for cleansing and purification. The alfombras are street carpets made from flowers, dyed sawdust, corozo palm and pine needles. R ight before the procession goes in front of the peoples house or business they decorate a beautiful carpet. As the precession goes by they trample all that beautiful art work. The carpets are a way to give thanks for favours granted, it is an obligation to a revered image.It is wild how long some of these carpets were. They were almost as long as the block.

This is a bird in the sand under a tree. We all thought this one was really neat.

This is a daisy made out of daisies!

The creativity is just amazing! I wish I could show you everyone we saw but it would be a lot.

As the Procession went by there were soldiers blowing their horns,

Men in red hoods who did not want their picture taken. oops
Ladies who walked on the outside of the procession with staffs.

It was a very festive and happy time with venders selling cotton candy, little toy trinkets & ice cream. As soon as the horns were heard there was a hush over the crowd, and we all watched in silence as the procession walked by. I could here people praying the rosary as we watched all the different people walk by. One woman who stood close to me was explaining the whole procession to her little girl. Our kids did not say a word they just soaked it all in. After we left we asked the kids what they thought. They all agreed it was different but cool to see. They thought it would have been even better if they would have thrown some thing. Thats my New Orleans kids for you!!

This is one of the procession floats which is carried by by thousands of men during a 12 hour period. This is a very desired job. As you can see they are about to turn the corner that we are standing on. It was incredible to see all those men carring such a heavy load.