For every Guatemalan community, Holy Week presents the premier opportunity to celebrate the tradition of faith. Hundreds of people dressed in deep purple robes accompany the most revered sculptural images from the church in daily street processions remembering the events culminating in Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The communities build massive wooden platforms – one displaying the figure of Christ carrying the cross and another carrying the figure of Mary in Sorrow. The platforms are carried on the shoulders of 40-50 people (depending on the size of the float, which increases each week in Lent, culminating on Good Friday with 80-100 bearers).

In addition to the parades, a variety of masses are held in San Lucas’ Catholic Church throughout the week, recognizing events leading to Easter Sunday. Wednesday night, a mass is held to bless the bread for the Last Supper held within the homes on Thursday. During Thursday afternoon mass, the priest washes the feet of children dressed in purple robes, depicting Jesus’ disciples, followed by a reenactment of the Last Supper.

At noon on Friday, as the people enter the church, they pass under the hung Judas Iscariot, represented by the Mayan figure Maximon. Filling the church to standing room only, the sounds of Jesus being nailed to the cross interrupt scattered conversation and children playing at their parents’ feet. 

The people crowd to the front of the church as the curtain is drawn and the cross is raised with Jesus on it. After Jesus is taken down later in the afternoon, he is placed in the casket and carried through the town streets. 

Dense clouds of incense envelop the Good Friday parade as the people scramble to finish decorating the streets with breathtakingly elaborate alfombras (carpets) of colored sawdust, flower petals and fruit just in time for the arrival the procession. These beautiful works of art are quickly destroyed as the parade passes over them. The procession lasts more than eight hours and into the early morning, and despite fatigue or weather conditions, the communities continue to construct the most elaborate of carpets, making way for Jesus until he returns to the church.

A candle-light vigil is held on Saturday night awaiting Christ’s resurrection. The people enter the church in darkness, and as the Christ candle enters the church, the people pass the light from candle-to-candle until the church is lit by a warm glow representing the light of Christ. The service is an acknowledgement and praise for Jesus’ sacrifice and the joy in resurrection to be celebrated Sunday.

Sunday morning is met with an early procession at 6 a.m. preceded by loud firecrackers and noise makers announcing the resurrection of Jesus as the youth of the community, while singing songs of joy and praise, carry a wooden float with a figure of the risen Christ, nail markings and all, through the streets of the town. Jesus is carried into the church of San Lucas, where mass then begins. Easter masses are also held throughout the day in the smaller surrounding communities.