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Apart from a quick trip up Cerro de la Cruz, the last two days have been spent viewing carpets and processions. There is not much to say apart from from it being non-stop, Antigua doesn't really sleep on these two days. People are either making carpets, taking part in processions or watching what is going on. The photos should 'say it all' but below is is bit of additional information.
CARPETS (Alfombras)
Holy Week in Antigua is world famous for its colourful processional carpets ('alfombras'), made on the streets by locals and families before a procession walks over it. The tradition is a combination of Spanish influences brought to Antigua in the 16th century and indigenous habits.
Families, friends, neighbourhoods and communities often work on the carpets for weeks or even months before Semana Santa, making the designs and molds of the images, figures and letters. The day before a procession, they make the base of the carpet using sand or pine needles to level the uneven cobblestoned streets. The creation of the carpet can then take hours, sometimes all night. The designs are made from coloured sawdust or sand dyed in bright colours. Flowers such as roses, crysanthemums and bougainvilleas, and different fruits, vegetables and seeds are often used to complete alfombras.
The designs are highly creative and many consider them to be pieces of art. The carpets are usually finished only a few minutes before the procession arrives. This is to make sure the carpet looks at its best when the hundreds of carriers of a float approach and ultimately walk over it and destroy the beautiful carpet.
PROCESSIONS (Procesiones)
The most awaited events during Lent and Holy Week are the somber processions that weave their way on the cobblestoned streets of Antigua. Each procession is made up of a group of men ('Los Cucuruchos') or women ('Las Dolorosas') carrying a large and heavy float ('anda') on their shoulders. The 'andas' are very large wooden platforms with statues, religous images and decorations placed on top of them.
The floats depict scenes of the Passion, Death or Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A typical procession consists of a float of men followed by a smaller float of women and a marching band.
The carriers of each float are members of a church brotherhood ('hermandad') responsible for the statue on top of the float. Since the floats weigh over 3,000kg, a group of 60-80 men carry them one block and are then replaced by a new group who carry the float again for one block, and so on. Each group of carriers is grouped together by their height in order to keep the float in balance. The float starts and ends its procession at the church of its brotherhood.
CARPETS (Alfombras)
Holy Week in Antigua is world famous for its colourful processional carpets ('alfombras'), made on the streets by locals and families before a procession walks over it. The tradition is a combination of Spanish influences brought to Antigua in the 16th century and indigenous habits.
Families, friends, neighbourhoods and communities often work on the carpets for weeks or even months before Semana Santa, making the designs and molds of the images, figures and letters. The day before a procession, they make the base of the carpet using sand or pine needles to level the uneven cobblestoned streets. The creation of the carpet can then take hours, sometimes all night. The designs are made from coloured sawdust or sand dyed in bright colours. Flowers such as roses, crysanthemums and bougainvilleas, and different fruits, vegetables and seeds are often used to complete alfombras.
The designs are highly creative and many consider them to be pieces of art. The carpets are usually finished only a few minutes before the procession arrives. This is to make sure the carpet looks at its best when the hundreds of carriers of a float approach and ultimately walk over it and destroy the beautiful carpet.
PROCESSIONS (Procesiones)
The most awaited events during Lent and Holy Week are the somber processions that weave their way on the cobblestoned streets of Antigua. Each procession is made up of a group of men ('Los Cucuruchos') or women ('Las Dolorosas') carrying a large and heavy float ('anda') on their shoulders. The 'andas' are very large wooden platforms with statues, religous images and decorations placed on top of them.
The floats depict scenes of the Passion, Death or Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A typical procession consists of a float of men followed by a smaller float of women and a marching band.
The carriers of each float are members of a church brotherhood ('hermandad') responsible for the statue on top of the float. Since the floats weigh over 3,000kg, a group of 60-80 men carry them one block and are then replaced by a new group who carry the float again for one block, and so on. Each group of carriers is grouped together by their height in order to keep the float in balance. The float starts and ends its procession at the church of its brotherhood.
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