The Story of The Processions
The history of the processions in Guatemala dates back to the time of the Spanish Conquest, when the first brotherhoods were established. The first procession that took place in the City of Santiago (today La Antigua) was on March 10, 1543.
The processions that you will see in La Antigua during Lent and Holy Week are considered spectacular art shows. Everyone involved in the processes of design, creation, lighting and elaboration of the decorations of the processions start work many months before. Some people work throughout the year! Lent and Semana Santa for many people in Antigua is their life and this should be respected. The wooden platform andas are used to transport a particular image. The decorations that the processions take on their platforms are inspired, as well as the holy vigils, are from passages of the Bible or in messages derived from Psalms or Proverbs.
Up To 6000 people are carriers for just one procession!
Each procession has spaces in which the carriers can place their shoulder to carry the floats; these spaces are called “arms”. During Holy Week, the procession carried by the conquerors of the church La Escuela de Cristo has 90 arms and the Santuario de San Felipe de Jesús has an amazing 100, making them the largest processions for men in Antigua. Each carrier has the honour of participating for one block in the streets of Antigua. Therefore up to a staggering 6000 people are carriers for just one procession!
The weight of these floats reach up to an incredible 4 tons. Each carrier therefore takes the weight of between 70 to 80 pounds. The processions that women carry are considerably smaller in size and weight, but the average pounds to be carried on their shoulders is estimated to be between 50 and 60 pounds.
The processions vary in the length of time that they take to complete their journey. In the case of the procession of Santo Entierro del Santuario de San Felipe de Jesús, it leaves the temple at 3 PM and returns at 6 AM the following day (Holy Saturday), making its journey the longest of all processions taking 15 hours to complete!
During Holy Week, at least 25 processions will come from different churches, shrines and brotherhoods in La Antigua and its surroundings. On Good Friday four processions of great recognition will tour the streets of La Antigua in one of the most celebrated Great faith’s of the world.
Photos: Sofia Letona
