Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala, was wonderful. We took a few days of language school, and enjoyed the celebrations of Holy Week here that attract over 800,000 people.
Missy and I at some ruins.
An example of an "alfombra" or carpet made of natural materials. We never figured out the significance of these- most people just simply said that it was tradition.
Here is an alfombra that we helped make. In the following picture, you can see what happens to alfombras- they get walked through! A processional plows right through the middle of even the most beautiful alfombras. The processionals themselves are huge wooden stagelike floats that are carried by about 60 men. The scene on the float varies, but always has something to do with a scene from the last week of Jesus. Every church has one or two of them and they all have their set times of weaving up and down the streets of Antigua with huge throngs of people following, and the incense burning, and the bands playing behind them. It is a very interesting sight.
