Monthly Newsletter - April 2009

With a long history of Catholicism inherited from the days of the Spanish colonial rule many centuries ago, Latin America has become renowned for its vibrant religious culture, much of which has shaken off the somber traditions of the European church to embrace a livelier approach to religious observance.

Carnaval is perhaps the most famous example of the Latin party spirit replacing traditional piety; but in most Latin American countries it is Semana Santa, Holy Week, that sees folks dropping their tools, ditching the city and enjoying a long holiday with the family.

Traditionally, Semana Santa represents Christ’s final few days on earth: it begins on Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem, continues to Jesus’ crucifixion and death on Good Friday, and ends with his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

To churchgoers, each day of Semana Santa holds its own symbolic importance and the faithful follow the week’s Biblical events with prayer and readings from the Gospel. However these days, the week holds a different significance, giving people a chance for some fun in one of the countless Latin America vacation destinations.

In most countries the Thursday and Friday preceding Easter are national holidays. Stores and banks are closed and hotels and transport are booked long in advance. Meanwhile, in many towns and cities, elaborate processions are held, often accompanied by fiestas and colorful rituals which are as influenced by pre-Spanish indigenous beliefs as they are by Catholic traditions.

In fact, some communities consider the time between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection to be an “anything goes” period where all sins are briefly abolished and people can do as they please until Easter Sunday’s resurrection services!

In Peru, a well known and popular Semana Santa celebration occurs in the central highland town of Ayacucho. The festivities include vigorous horse races and traditional bull running known as jalatoro.

In Cuzco, centerpiece city of the Sacred Valley, the Semana Santa processions see vivid displays of local textiles, draped from buildings and glinting with golden threads, while a constant barrage of fireworks adds to the sense of occasion.

Meanwhile, Brazil adds its own vibrant color to the celebrations, especially in the glorious colonial city of Ouro Preto where processions and church services lead up to a graphic reenactment of the removal of Jesus from the Cross.

Such celebrations take place in towns and cities throughout the region, in Costa Rica and Argentina as well as Peru and Brazil. Each country and city applies its own unique slant to the proceedings, creating a range of experiences to choose from, from the devout to the debauched.

Back in Peru, I took advantage of the long weekend by making the short journey from Lima to Huacho on the central Pacific coast. There, on a beach hidden within a nature reserve, I joined a few thousand revelers at a weekend-long festival where processions of traditionally-dressed fire breathers and countless Peruvians danced until dawn and mentions of Jesus and Holy Week were few and far between. The Latin party spirit was alive and well for Semana Santa.

By
Matthew Barker

If you have any questions regarding his article, please write to him at: mattb@costaricaforless.com

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• Newsletter March 2009
• Newsletter February 2009
• Newsletter January 2009
• Newsletter December 2008
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