Semana Santa with a colourful twist

The most important week of the year

​Whilst here in the Netherlands Easter is nowadays mainly all about Easter eggs, in Latin America it has a much greater significance. The week leading up to Easter is known here as Semana Santa (Holy Week) and is one of the most important periods of the year for Catholics. Throughout the week, celebrations are held and extravagant processions take place to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a sombre and sometimes dramatic event, but undoubtedly a very special experience. Everyone immerses themselves completely in these events this week, and daily life comes to a complete standstill. If you know how spirited Latinos are, just imagine the passion with which this week is celebrated.

Incense, drums and colourful works of art

Throughout Latin America, the week before Easter is celebrated on a grand scale. For a truly unforgettable and cultural experience, Semana Santa in Antigua comes highly recommended . There is no other city in the world where this week is celebrated more extensively than here. The streets are filled with the scent of incense, with the sound of drums in the background. Through the cloud of incense, the procession emerges. A group of men carries a large platform bearing statues of the saints. Carrying this platform, also known as a ‘dobber’, used to be regarded as penance. Today, it is seen by many as a privilege. There are even some processions that last for more than 18 hours.

A splash of colour

​The most special thing about Semana Santa in Antigua is that the commemorations here take on a colourful twist. The streets are decorated with colourful carpets made of sand, sawdust and flowers. These carpets are also known as ‘alfombras’ and are truly magnificent works of art. Families start designing them and making preparations months in advance. The day before the procession takes place, work begins on creating one of these beautifully coloured carpets. However, the artwork does not remain in place for long, as the procession is meant to walk over the carpet and sweep the colours away. As soon as the procession has passed, work begins again in a different spot on a new artwork for the next procession.