Guatemalan Semanas Santos

My Guatemalan Easter experience began in Flores where the streets where lined with palm branches for Palm Sunday. Holy Week or Semanas Santos seemed to shut down the entire country of Guatemala. Most stores and restaurants were closed or had limited hours, people took time off work, schools had vacation for students. As an outsider looking in on a culture and observing the festivities, there were many moments where I was confused or shocked. My lack of knowledge in Catholicism, Jesus's life and Christianity was apparent.

In Xela, processions filled the streets of the Central town from dawn until late in the night. Every somewhat skilled musician in the Guatemalan Highlands seemed to be there waiting to provide music for the long and slow walks through the aging cobble-stone streets. Large and heavy wooden structures (floats) depicting the last days of Christ were hoisted onto the shoulders of local men and women, dressed in suits and traditional dresses, and then carried through the streets in a slow rocking motion. The bands played somber tones to signify the more serious processions and lighter music accompanied the more celebratory themed processions.

In fact, were it not for the sometimes somber music, someone 100% unfamiliar with the Easter holiday would not have know it was about the death/resurrection of Jesus. Markets, carnivals, vendors selling candy and toys lined the streets. Women and children dresses in bright traditional clothing both participated and looked on ward.

Saturday night fireworks popped in the sky and bands played loud celebratory music in the streets. Early on Easter Sunday, the celebration began again, this time with bigger, brighter and louder processions. The central park and main cathedral were packed. Vendors called out loudly selling toys and candies for children and many people were gathering in small circles to say prayers. That's when I saw it. Across the park from the church and the procession was a man attached to a cross. He stood there for hours, I know it symbolized Christ's crucifixion but, a man stood below him speaking and I think there was more going on; although my Spanish was not good enough to understand exactly what.

After one week of celebration, fireworks and festivities Samanas Santos came to an end. For me it was a unique cultural experience and one I am thankful to have witnessed.