Semana Santa Antigua Guatemala Good Friday Easter Sunday 2011

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This post is part 4 of 6 in the series Semana Santa in Antigua

There are literally dozens of elaborate processions between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday as part of the incredible week-long Semana Santa celebrations in Antigua, Guatemala (check out our handy primer to all things Semana Santa–from andas to alfombras to cuchuruchos).

The reverent processions between Palm Sunday and Good Friday tell the story of Jesus’ crucifixion (which is re-enacted ceremonially on Good Friday). Processions between Good Friday and Easter Sunday take on an even more solemn, somber tone as participants and observers mourn the crucified Jesus. People’s costumes change from purple to black. Processions slowly wander the streets with just a Virgin float–no Jesus float since he is now crucified.

The images in this slides show were taken during various Semana Santa processions in Antigua, Guatemala between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

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Good Friday – Viernes Santo

The first processions on Good Friday departs La Merced church at 4am. On Thursday afternoon we overhead a tour guide telling his group that it rains every year around 3 am on the morning of Good Friday. This year the rain drops started a little early, but the sky cleared in time for the processions.

Jesús Nazareno de la Merced on his way to the crucifixion during a Good Friday procession in Antigua, Guatemala.

By 3 pm on Good Friday everyone has exchanged their purple costumes for black in mourning for the crucified Jesus.

The Good Friday procession from the Escuela de Cristo church.

A float bearing the Virgin (which is always carried by women) during a Good Friday procession from the Escuela de Cristo church.

Check out more of the sights and sounds of the Good Friday processions in Antigua, Guatemala in our video, below.

Saturday – Sábado de Gloria

Semana Santa processions on Saturday do not have floats (called andas) bearing Jesus. He’s now crucified, so Saturday processions have floats bearing images of a mourning Virgin, all carried by women.

The pointy hats worn during some Semana Santa processions, incuding this one on Saturday, have nothing to do with the KKK.

A float bearing the Virgen de Soledad leaving the Escuela de Cristo church.

A float bearing the Virgen de Soledad leaving the Escuela de Cristo church in Antigua, Guatemala.

The Virgen de Soledad atop a float carried by women in a Saturday procession from the Escuela de Cristo church in Antigua, Guatemala.

Check out more of the sights and sounds of the Saturday processions in Antigua, Guatemala in our video, below.

Easter Sunday – Pascua

Easter Sunday processions mark the resurrection of Jesus and there’s a distinctly party-like atmosphere. Children wave yellow and white flags, people cheer and smile. Confetti falls from the sky.