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Semana Santa

Semana Santa

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a week-long celebration leading up to Easter Sunday. From baking large amounts of bread to decorating streets with sawdust “carpets”, you won’t find another country that celebrates Semana Santa quite like Guatemala does.

During the Catholic celebrations leading to holy week, the religious perform ceremonies dressed in purple robes in Guatemala. - 857-38456

People working on a carpet made of sand & sawdust along the Good Friday processional route. Carpet-making is thought of as a sacrificial act, as the elaborate detail and time that go into the carpet making is a way for people to give something of themselves in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus. These carpets last on average 2 hours before they are destroyed by the many feet that march over them during a procession in Antigua Guatemala., Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27285

As part of the observance of Lent in Guatemala, a person prepares an aromatic carpet for a procession in Antigua, Guatemala. - 857-38446

As part of the observance of Lent in Guatemala, a person prepares an aromatic carpet for a procession in Antigua, Guatemala. - 857-38447

Close-up of coloured sawdust rug on the street on Good Friday during Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala, Central America - 391-3900

Girl by a carpet made of sand & sawdust along the Good Friday processional route. Carpet-making is thought of as a sacrificial act, as the elaborate detail and time that go into the carpet making is a way for people to give something of themselves in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus. These carpets last on average 2 hours before they are destroyed by the many feet that march over them during a procession in Antigua Guatemala., Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27190

Carpet made of sand & sawdust along the Good Friday processional route. Carpet-making is thought of as a sacrificial act, as the elaborate detail and time that go into the carpet making is a way for people to give something of themselves in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus. These carpets last on average 2 hours before they are destroyed by the many feet that march over them during a procession in Antigua Guatemala., Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27200

Carpet with Christian imagery made of sand & sawdust along the Good Friday processional route. Carpet-making is thought of as a sacrificial act, as the elaborate detail and time that go into the carpet making is a way for people to give something of themselves in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus. These carpets last on average 2 hours before they are destroyed by the many feet that march over them during a procession in Antigua Guatemala., Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27198

Carpet made of pine needles, flowers, sand & sawdust along the Good Friday processional route. Carpet-making is thought of as a sacrificial act, as the elaborate detail and time that go into the carpet making is a way for people to give something of themselves in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus. These carpets last on average 2 hours before they are destroyed by the many feet that march over them during a procession in Antigua Guatemala., Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27188

People working on a carpet made of sand & sawdust along the Good Friday processional route. Carpet-making is thought of as a sacrificial act, as the elaborate detail and time that go into the carpet making is a way for people to give something of themselves in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus. These carpets last on average 2 hours before they are destroyed by the many feet that march over them during a procession in Antigua Guatemala., Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27284

As part of the observance of Lent in Guatemala, a group of people prepares an aromatic carpet for a procession in Antigua, Guate - 857-38445

Easter Holy Week procession in Antigua, Guatemala. Jesus Nazareno de la Penitencia Procession in Antigua, Guatemala. Holy Week, friday. - 1350-3758

Easter Holy Week procession in Antigua, Guatemala. Jesus Nazareno de la Penitencia Procession in Antigua, Guatemala. Holy Week, friday. - 1350-3760

Holy Week processions in Guatemala city. Holy Thursday. Comparsa. Holy Week in Guatemala is celebrated with street expressions of faith, called processions, usually organized by a "hermandades". Each procession of Holy Week has processional floats and steps, which are often religious images of the Passion of Christ, or Marian images, although there are exceptions, like the allegorical steps of saints. - 1350-3753

Men carrying the andas (Floats) of Saints during the Procession of the Holy Cross on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27267

Men carrying the anda (float) of Jesus carrying the Cross during the Procession of the Holy Cross on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27208

Men carrying the anda (float) of Jesus carrying the Cross during the Procession of the Holy Cross on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27240

Men and boys wear purple as a sign of mourning at the Procession of the Holy Cross on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27231

Men carrying the anda (float) of Jesus carrying the Cross during the Procession of the Holy Cross on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27241

Man waiving an incense burner during the Holy Burial Procession on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27270

Women dressed in mourning carry the anda (float) of the sorrowful Virgin Mary during a Good Friday Procession in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27261

Men and boys wear purple as a sign of mourning at the Procession of the Holy Cross on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27236

Holy Week Procession, Antigua, Guatemala, Central America - 741-3179

Holy Week Procession, Antigua, Guatemala, Central America - 741-3176

People following the anda (float) of the sorrowful Virgin Mary during the Holy Burial Procession on Good Friday in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepuquez, Guatemala - 1116-27294