Semana Santa – The Making of an Alfombras

Antigua is crazy…The streets are busy at all times and the air is one of festivity….It must be Semana Santa (The celebration of Easter and the death and re-birth of Christ). It’s likely the best possible time to be in this great town when it transforms from a sleep town and tourist location to a destination point for the celebration of Easter. There are multiple processions daily winding their way through the old cobblestone streets of Antigua. For most of our group the morning was a free time to wander around, do some shopping and relax. After yesterdays climb up the Pacaya Volcano I’d certainly have enjoyed that opportunity but it was not to be.
Our group had decided we were going to create an Alfombras . Alfombras are traditional carpets created in the centre of the streets made from any combinations of pine needles, sawdust (natural and dyed) flowers and dyed coffee grounds. Locals create Alfombras of incredible designs and scale as I’ve shown in a previous blog. These creations have a short life, only existing until a religious progression passes over them trampling these works of art.  Needing supplies several of  us were enlisted to go get them. Off to the local Flower market we went to get pine needles, roses, and a small white flower that was something like baby’s breath.

Our Group and Our Alfombras

Once we returned we had to decide what it was we were going to create.  A simple design was decided upon and the creation of same began. It came out quite nice…a joint effort for sure.  Our distinct difference was the Habitat For Humanity symbol in the design.  Now it was simply a matter of waiting for the procession to come. Time, I’ve found is a relative thing in Guatemala. First we were told about 3pm… later it was going to be 6:30 and by the time the procession was in our area it was more like 7:30.  I’m starting to see this view of time as normal. Perhaps I’ll need therapy once back in Canada.



As the procession arrived the air became thick with smoke from metal canisters being carried by young and old men and boys dressed in black robes. As they solemnly walked by us they swung the metal canisters forcing more of the heavy smoke to be dispersed into the air and of course the lungs for all of the spectators which included our group. The procession continued and the black robed males were replaced by 2 single lines of woman in black dresses. These woman, of all ages, walked solemnly down both sides of the street as the smoke continued to hang in the air obstructing our view, filling our lungs and our eyes. As the procession continued the float carrying the Virgin Mary proceeded by our location. This Float is incredibly heavy and carried on the shoulders of 80 woman, clearly straining up it’s weight and moving side to side as they carry Mary solemnly down the dark streets by our location and out of our view. We’ve been told that these processions last between 12 and 13 hours winding their way through the streets. Quite and event that clearly has an impact to both tourists and the locals of Antigua.