La Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala Photo Gallery by Ann Murdy at pbase.com

La Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala

The beautiful city of Antigua, Guatemala is famous for it's celebration of La Semana Santa (Holy Week). It is the second most popular tourist destination to observe Holy Week outside of Spain. The population of 30,000 increases to up to 300,000 during this time of year. Holy Week begins on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and concludes on Easter Sunday. Processional floats (andas) weighing up to 7,000 pounds are carried through cobblestone streets by cucuruchos. These men move the andas over alfrombras (carpets) which are made of colored sand, fruits, vegetables, pine needles and flowers from the season. Following the men are the women carriers known as hermanas cargadoras carrying andas with the Virgin Mary. Children participate in their own processions as well. They process mini-andas in the streets on Saturday whereas the adult processions are on Sunday. After three o'clock on Good Friday the cucuruchos robes change from purple to black. Throughout Semana Santa mournful dirges are played with all of the processions. It is truly a sight to behold!

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Relaxing	Palm weaving	Palm Weaver	Palm Weaver against wall
Struggling	Boys carrying anda	Boy looking up	Boys carrying anda from La Merced
Boy in purple	Child at La Merced	Child inside church	Child from Santa Maria de Jesus
El Niño	Hold onto my hand	Procession boys	A sea of purple and white
Copal	A lighter moment	Un Descanso	Surrounded by smoke
Boy in front of anda	Taking a break	Hermano with staff	Group of Cucuruchos
Boys in matching robes	Boy swinging copal	Glancing away	Waiting for procession
Girl with white veil	Girl with lacy hat	Girl smiling	Little girl carrying anda
Give me a hand	Women with anda	Girl carrying anda	Lady carrier from La Merced
Palm Sunday in Santa Maria de Jesus	Women in Santa Maria de Jesus	Roman soldier and cucuruchos	Girl in pink
Carrying anda	Lead carrier from La Merced	Walking onto carpet	Holding hands along route
Head downward	La Mujer con los hombres	Procession	A heavy load
Lady working on alfrombra	Girl with bundle of pine needles	Girl with palm weaving	Lady with palm weaving
Crosses and calla lilies	Lady with basket of palm weavings	Alfrombra with calla lilies	Floral arrangement
Ceramic angels on alfrombra	Alfrombra for Good Friday	Alfrombra and stencils	Mariposas
Adding color	Working on Merced alfrombra	Carpet making	Mucho colores
Detail of alfrombra	Snap dragons and pine needles	Alfrombra with flamencos and grapes	Pine needles and roses
Materials for making alfrombras	Stencils and broom	Working away	Carpet with sunflowers
Bird on branch	Alfrombra with our Lady of Guadalupe	Alfrombra with veggies	Alfrombra with peacock
Alfrombra with procession	Alfrombra with dyed egg shells	Alfrombra with family from Chichi	Alfrombra with mother and child
A balancing act	Family working on carpet	Lifting up stencil	Stencils of animals
Working on carpet	Roses and pine needles	Alfrombra with ceramic angels	Dedication
Walking	Angel with image of Christ	Walking on cobblestone	Annoucing start of procession
Cofradia member	Card for procession	Shrouded	Waiting for procession to arrive
Getting ready	Looking out	Pensive mood	Waiting
Boy with banner	Looking at alfrombra with fish	Soldier with banner	Talking on cell phone
Roman soldiers against blue wall	Roll the drum	Cristo on the Parque	Christ figure from Santa Maria de Jesus
La Merced Procession	Palm Sunday Procession	Turning corner	Corozo palms and flowers
Walking to procession	Done for the day	What a View	Copal kid
Virgin in gray and white	Madre Dolorosa with thorns	Virgin Mary from La Merced	Madre Dolorosa de Igelesia San Francisco
The conversation	Holding crown of thorns	Waiting for procession to start	Silently waiting
Alfrombra at La Merced	Line Up of Angels	Virgin holding goblet	Christ descending into heaven

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comment |

William Barletta		30-May-2009 19:18
Absolutely superb photography. I love your treatment of light and color.

Barbara Mauldin		10-May-2008 14:25
Hi Ann: Thank you for sending the link to your photos. They are fabulous!!! Beautiful!! You have rally captured Semana Santa in Antigua. Barbara

Sheila Rose		24-Apr-2008 01:54
Ann, The photo's are wonderful as everyone has said. I love the children,they have such beautiful and innocent faces. I too learned about the Alfronda's and would love some stencils to do on my fences....Thank you for sharing Sheila

Chip Conway		19-Apr-2008 14:23
Hello, Ann. Thank you for the opportunity of seeing the very colorful celebration. Enjoyed the purple kids and the photos of the alfrondas. Like a travelog, your photos transport me to the place in the time. Thank you. Cchip

Guest		06-Apr-2008 22:38
aS ALWAYS, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY. I SERIOUSLY THINK YOU SHOULD SUBMIT THEM TO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC And applyfor a photo job. xox goldie

Guest		06-Apr-2008 13:46
Oh my, I didn't know anything about the alfronda's. They are all so beautiful. You did such a good job as always. Thank you bobbie

Tom Aageson		05-Apr-2008 21:39
Ann...once again you captured the heart and soul of Holy Week in Guatemala. The sense of color, composition and spirit is uplifting. It sounds like you had a challenging time yet the photos look perfect. Mil gracias. Tom

Eleni Cahn		05-Apr-2008 19:41
Ann, the alfronda's are amazing! I didn't know that they used stencils. I would love to have a set to stencil walls, wouldn't you? We are leaving Tues for the West Coast and will be gone a month. We are visiting Stephan and family in Seattle and camping slowly along the coast to San Francisco to visit Robin and Shane. Will return around May 12 and will be in touch. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work. Leni

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