Antigua and Semana Santa

I have never been the religious type. Some would say I have that hippy like
faith...we just believe that every religion is ok....let´s all just be
one...peace!

But Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala is one way to install faith in
anyone. This whole week has been a re-enactment of Jesus Christ´s
life-death-resurrection. Every church has their own huge display of what
appearantly happened that day, and the week has been built up to Good Friday
and his death. The entire town was filled with thousands of people who
flocked in from everywhere to experience the massive processions.

5am on Friday morning I opened my eyes and walked down to the La Merced
Church, one of 14 churches in this small town. Every street had people
frantically trying to finish their Alfombres which are massive arts of work
created in sawdust in the middle of the streets. People spend two day dying
the sawdust in all different colors and created pictures that are
intricately designed. I walked around watching as generators gave them
enough light to continue to work.

At 6am, the most impressive procession all week began. The roman soldiers on
horses rode around the town, announcing different things as it might have
happened back during the time of Jesus. Then, an enormous replica of Jesus
carrying a cross with 80-100 people having to carry the scene somberly
walked, slowly, down the streets and through the intricately detailed
alfombres. I have yet to understand the meaning of putting so much work into
an art that is destroyed by the people who carry Jesus. But, it is a
tradition that has been here many many years.

They walked for 6 hours through the streets of Antigua until they came to
the Center. There was a huge ceremony, a reenactment of his crucification,
and a funeral with his death at 3pm. Everyone changed from purple robes to
black and Jesus wore a red robe. They continued down the streets with his
coffin now with incense ahead cleansing the air that he passed. These
processions were unbelievable, powerful, and mixed with the outside world
celebrating selling small gadgets, ice cream, and children laughing. The two
were almost an oxymoron.

At 7pm we found a street, the walls filled with candles. The new alfombres
with candles and angels were the only light. The largest procession came in
slowly from a town outside of Antigua and it was by far the most beautiful
procession all week. It had more than 150 people carrying at once, with the
same steps, for 6 hours....a scene with Mary holding Jesus and the angels.
The scene was powerful and emotional for many. It is understandable as to
why this is the best place to come to see Semana Santa here.

The difficulty with all of this for me is to see a religion that was forced
into the worlds of so many people are now living it in pure faith. Many
Mayans in the time were not allowed to practice their previous religion and
were forced into Christianity. I have a confusing time seeing this
now...knowing that it was not a choice at one time. Now of course it is a
choice. I can´t say that either religion is wrong or right especially since
I come from a hippy faith. But it is confusing and beautiful at the same
time!

I know that much of my extended family has a strong faith in this week. I
felt I needed to share this time with them because it is something that I
know you would have enjoyed experiencing and understand its power more than
I do. I am excited to learn more about this time, and have a friend who is
catching me up on the story of Jesus Christ and her understanding of the
bible and its words. It is all quite fascinating to me to learn.

Happy Easter.