Antigua Guatemala can be considered the world center for Semana Santa in 2012. Prior to the beginning of Holy Week or Semana Santa in Antigua and in many parts of Guatemala Celebrations and Parades are held each Sunday.
Parades start in villages and or at Churches around Antigua, arriving and Parading through the streets of Antigua early evening and sometimes late into the night.
The Celebration of these Parades are based on religious belief as a build up to Semana Santa in Guatemala. Worshipper carry huge Religious floats for a better term, some weighing up to 7 tons. The worshippers supporting the Parade and church from which these large figures have come all wear Purple.
Last Sunday’s Celebration in Antigua Guatemala was from a small village called Santa Ana, which can be considered for the most, part of Antigua. Santa Ana is at most a 10 minute ride from the central park of Antigua to the small village on the outskirts of Antigua.
Our home is on the main parade path for all these Parades through lent leading up to Semana Santa. Sunday night we had the pleasure of seeing the procession from the village of Santa Ana pass by our homes front door only by the night sky’s over Antigua.
The photo’s I have included were taken through our front window of our home. As one can see a very empowering site.
Antigua’s Semana Santa is the most spectacular celebration of Holy Week on the planet. Tourists from around the world converge on Antigua (quadrupling its population for a week) to see this amazing, one-of-a-kind celebration of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
We have the great opportunity by living in Antigua Guatemala to have a close up view of these processions leading up to Holy Week and Semana Santa.
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