Easter and Holy Week: Cultural Traditions Not to Miss in Antigua, Guatemala

by Jyl Johnson Pattee on April 3rd, 2010 | 5 Comments »

When we told our boys—ages 9 and 6 1/2—that we'd be traveling to Guatemala over Easter, their only concern was whether or not the Easter Bunny would still visit them.

Not knowing exactly what our schedule would be, how much access we'd have to materials to accommodate our normal egg-dying traditions, and how much time we'd have to prepare, we set low expectations but reassured the boys that they'd have an Easter they wouldn't forget. And forget they won't!

Today, we went to Antigua—a colonial town in Guatemala. There, we experienced a beautiful and elaborate Catholic procession complete with floats; streets carpeted with Christ-adorned designs made out of saw dust, pine needles, flowers, salt, and fruits and vegetables; and families dressed in black, following the 8-hour long procession with feeling, reminiscing and mourning Christ's death.

The video below captures the beauty and importance of this amazing tradition! Although I am not Catholic, this event touched my soul, causing me to reflect on and appreciate my own beliefs. I hope it does the same for you. I wish you all a Happy Easter and Passover season and peace during this time of year!

Bio
Latest Posts

Jyl Johnson Pattee

An active part of the Mom It Forward team, Jyl primarily writes about parenting, social good, and all things travel related. In a past life, Jyl was an award-winning copywriter and designer of corporate training programs for Fortune 100 companies. Offline, Jyl is married to @TroyPattee; a mom to two teen boys and a beagle named #Hashtag; loves large amounts of cheese, dancing, and traveling; and lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Topping her bucket list is the goal to visit 50 countries by the time she's 50.