Semana Santa

by ChichiMax · Published 2017-11-09 · Updated 2017-11-12

Semana Santa – which officially starts on Palm Sunday, the last Sunday before Easter, and consists of religious processions with large “andas,” wooden floats, bearing statues of Jesus carrying the cross or Mary or other religious icons. The andas, some of which are huge, are carried by four (for the tiniest ones) up to 40 or maybe even more men. The guys carrying the andas are called cucuruchus – dunces – because of the dunce hats they wear.

But Semana Santa is more than a religious holiday just as Christmas is more than a religious holiday in the US. Beyond being religious, it’s about “summer,” coming as it does early in the part of the dry season that Guatemalan call refer to as summer. And on Good Friday there’s an obsession for many people with getting to “the water,” whether it’s Lake Atitlan, or the Pacific Coast, or at least some swimming pool somewhere.

Meanwhile, back on the streets, Good Friday is the day that the huge processions wend around the streets in an almost-all night long vigil. It’s all a very special time, and of course the main towns – especially Antigua, which has by far the most elaborate and colorful celebrations – are booked solid, with no rooms available at the inn.

Travelers should take note that airfares to and from Guatemala are generally sky high either side of Semana Santa.