Easter in Mexico, Semana Santa and Pascua: a Mexican holiday resource page

articles Culture & Arts Culture Index Pages Events, Holidays & Fiestas
Tony10960Leave a Comment on Easter in Mexico, Semana Santa and Pascua: a Mexican holiday resource page
Tears from the Crown of Thorns: The Easter Passion Play in San Miguel de Allende
What I saw in the dark room amazed me; these were personalities, not the mask of angelic apathy but great visions of pain. Each statue captured a slightly different version of this difficult emotion.
People unfamiliar with the Latin culture are curious, confused, and sometimes repulsed by the emphasis on suffering in religious figures: swords in hearts, bloodied backs, scraped knees and tortured expressions. During Easter in North America, the focus is on the resurrection and the delights of spring. The event is concerned with the awe of transformation. There is resistance to facing the suffering that is a major part of this epic…. I see the figures of Jesus or Mary with hearts exposed or pierced by a sword as reminders of the pain they endured. It is the job of these religious statues to remind us, to help us experience those feelings we try so hard to forget: for it is through these feelings that we can open to compassion.
The village people of Atotonilco begin preparations of their Señor in the late evening. It is a sweet and intimate experience. They remove him from his glass case, as well as the statues of Maria of the Sorrows and Saint John from the altar: the three statues are attached to palanquins. In the background, four local men sing a capella as the villagers enter to give their respects.
The images are covered with forty bright silk scarves provided by the villagers. They tenderly pin the scarves over the statues with hands rough from hard labor. After applying the silk scarves, the villagers secure special coverings of muslin with colored bands.
People are lined all along the route into town. They are waiting to once again see their beloved saints.
Friday of Sorrows occurs one week before Good Friday. On this day, the family religious treasures are brought out for the community to appreciate. Throngs of people pass through the dark streets to gaze at the altars, which are placed in windows, doorways, entryways driveways, gardens, living rooms, fountains, even in front of stores.
They're in special settings with hand-painted backdrops of mountains, deserts or stormy skies. Aromatic herbs and flowers are in profusion… Candles, special lighting effects and music enhance the mood. Symbols are important: bitter orange for Mary's grief, golden flags for the glory of heaven, and yellow grass, which has been hidden from the sun for days, the symbol of the resurrection.
Before the religious events of Palm Sunday begin, crafts people are busy preparing the palms that will be used during the processions… They spread colorful cloths over stones in the town square on which they place intricately woven palm fronds. Some are tiny crosses or roses; others resemble baskets; still others are flights of fancy with herbs and flowers woven into the design. Occasionally there are small religious pictures cut from a magazine pasted onto the piece. © Charlotte Bell, 2011
On Good Friday, the Procession of the Holy Meeting and the Passing of the Priest begins at noon. This religious play is set in front of the San Rafael Church. The story begins with Pontius Pilate. A stage has been built to recreate the scene. The priest reads the story as the participants act the proceedings out in mime. Finally, Pontius Pilate washes his hands of responsibility and the procession begins.
It begins with the parish priest carrying Father Alfaro's standard… Soldiers, then little girls in white dresses, some with angel wings, preceed the penitents dressed in rough purple cloth. The first staue to emnerge is a huge figure of Jesus Nazareno carrying the cross. He is followed by San Roque, San Juan, Mary Magdalene, Veronica and Maria Cleofas.
The procession ends in front of the Parroquia Church where Mary has been waiting. The two statues proceed toward each other and stop feet apart. The amazing statue of Jesus has a moveable head. From under the palanquin the rope is slowly pulled three times, making Jesus look up to his mother. It is a captivating moment, and the crowd is hushed as they strain to see.
The first large angel to appear is breathtaking… This angel holds the bitter cup. The expression on its face is of sorrow verging on horror… Each of the following angels holds a different object: golden chalice, crown of thorns, the spikes, the whip, the sword and the cloth of Veronica… these angels are nameless and have appeared on earth to assist Mary with her grief. They are not unique to San Miguel. Statues and paintings of them exist throughout Europe.
As with most Mexican events, there are a plethora of objects to purchase as a remembrance. There are the modern day "santos."
The images are crafted by master artisans known as santeros (makers of religious statues). Genaro Almanza explains that it is the job of the santero to elicit emotion from the viewers so that they will become more than observers and participate by sharing in the sadness and compassion of the story.
Sr. Genaro Almanza is a national treasure. The knowledge coming through his hands is from a long lineage dating back to Spain. He is the last remaining santero in San Miguel. He told me that he would meditate on the object that the angel would carry and from this would come the expression. Those very expressions inspired this book. He said, "My knowledge is for everyone, like the sun and the air."

For Mexico, the Easter holidays are a combination of Semana Santa (Holy Week — Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday) and Pascua (Resurrection Sunday until the following Saturday).

For most Mexicans, this 2 week period is the time of year for holiday vacations (good time to not be on the highways — just stay put and enjoy the community of your choice during this holiday season).

Holy Week celebrates the last days of the Christ’s life. Easter is the celebration of the Christ’s Resurrection. It is also the release from the sacrifices of Lent.

In many communities, the full Passion Play is enacted from the Last Supper, the Betrayal, the Judgement, the Procession of the 12 Stations of the Cross, the Crucifixion and, finally, the Resurrection. In some communities, flagellation and/or real crucifixion is included. The enactments are often wondrously staged, costumed and acted, with participants preparing for their roles for nearly the full year leading up to Semana Santa.

The Passion of Christ: Easter in Ixtapalapa, a Mexico City neighborhood
The Passion of Christ: Easter in Ixtapalapa, a Mexico City neighborhood

Picture Galleries

Articles

Published or Updated on: March 15, 2021 by Index Page © 2010, 2021

Share This:
Tagged

Other Posts

Green Chile Rajas With Cheese

Tony
Apache shows Jocelyn the ropes as she trains for Mexico's lucha libre. © Annick Donkers, 2012

Mexico’s lucha libre: Dreams of professional wrestling

Tony
CUILAPAN Basilica - Cuilapan Monastery, Oaxaca © Photo by Tony Burton

Monte Alban: The Americas’ oldest urban center

Tony

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *