Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the week leading up to Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday, including Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and ending on Holy Saturday. Saturday marks the last day of lent. With the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
Latin America is predominantly a Christian region, and Semana Santa is commonly celebrated throughout the country of Honduras. Working at a Catholic school, we were given the whole week off.
Semana Santa was a very interesting week for me, as it all started with my plans falling through to go to Leon, Nicaragua. Instead it was a very spontaneous week, as I took advantage of opportunities as they were presented. All in all I spent the week here in Juticalpa, Tegucigalpa, and Trujillo.
Started the break off right with a lot of sleep, eating, Netflix, and a little bit of soccer. Part of this rest was completely by accident as I planned to go to Tegucigalpa early Sunday morning for Palm Sunday. This plan quickly evaporated as my companion on the trip accidentally left his phone in the taxi we took to the bus station. Ended up spending the next couple of hours searching for the taxi and the phone, to no avail.
Instead, I ended up going to Tegucigalpa Monday morning and stayed the night with a friend. Highlight of my time in Tegucigalpa included going to the movie theater, Valle de Angeles, and visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa. Although didn’t see the most exciting movie, going to the movie theater was a real treat for me as it was the first time I have been to a movie theater while in Honduras (over 9 months). Valle de Angeles is a quaint village in the mountains, just a short drive from the capital. It is a tourist center for its scenery and placement, and vendors sell all sorts of souvenirs. My absolute favorite part of the trip was visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa. The Basilica has a rich history as it was built in honor of Our Lady of Suyupa, after the Virgin Mary’s statue was found in the area and was attributed with miracles. From stained glassed windows, to statues of the saints, the Basilica it absolutely stunning. The Basilica even overlooks the city and a statue of St. John Paul II is on the grounds, as this former pope visited the site. It is the most stunning structure I have seen to date through my travels of Latin America.
Basilica of Our Lady Suyapa
I arrived back from Tegucigalpa late Tuesday night and spent a majority of the remainder of the week at home in Juticalpa except for a short stint in Trujillo on Saturday. I have been to Trujillo before (Post of Trujillo), and it is always a great experience to go to the beach. However, this trip was especially interesting as I spent the duration of three hour car ride there and back in the bed of a truck with five other guys, while it commenced to rain on us. Experiences like this are special, as they are unique to living abroad.
Spending most of Semana Santa at home in Juticalpa gave me the opportunity to really enter into Triduum activities. Being Catholic, this experience was especially sentimental. During this time, four activities really stuck out to me for their uniqueness (from what I am used to in the US) and their importance.
Triduum (The Summit of the Liturgical Year)
Triduum – Celebrated from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Celebrates the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
Procesion del Silencio
Minutes before the start of the ‘Procesion del Silencio’ – meaning ‘Procession of Silence’ – hundreds fell quiet to meditate on the upcoming sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross during Good Friday. Each member of the community was given a candle and the procession commenced around the city. The Procession began at the conclusion of the ‘Misa Lavatorio de Los Pies’ – meaning ‘Mass of the washing of the Feet’ or Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thrusday.
Santo Via Crucis
The glaring sun and searing heat did not deter the determined faithful arriving early on Good Friday for the Via Crucis – meaning ‘Way of the Cross’ or Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross are a Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on his last day on Earth as a man. This Via Crucis was a Live Stations, with actors reenacting each station. The community processed throughout the city, stopping at certain locations for each station. The Stations of the Cross lasted several hours all the while during intense heat. I especially felt empathy for the actors. Personally, the stations allowed me to meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and how my discomfit pales in comparison.
Procesion del Santo Entierro
Following the conclusion of the Misa Adoracion a la Santa Cruz – meaning the Mass of the Veneration of the Cross – the church community gathered outside for the start of the Procesion del Santo Entierro – meaning the Procession of the Holy Burial. This procession mourns the death of Christ and has several stations remembering prominent events in Jesus’s life. This activity was the most unique experience for me of the week, as I have never heard are partaken in an event similar to this.
Alfombras
In some Central American countries Semana Santa is celebrated in a colorful fashion, by creating beautiful street carpets made of sand and sawdust and decorated with plants and flowers, called alfombras (Carpets). I was extremely grateful to partake in the creation of a street carpet, if only just for a little bit. These street creations were absolutely beautiful.
Overview
As a whole, Semana Santa was a very refreshing and fulfilling week, even with my plans falling through. I mean, it can’t get much better than a whole week off of school and ending with Easter! The week was an excellent reminder of the importance of family, friends, and faith. Experiencing it in another country just made it that much more special.
search4adventure 