The Feast of Guadalupe Returns Full Force

Lighted image of Guadalupe, Akumal MX

                                                             

In 2020 and 2021 all activities in Mexico, including religious ones,  were limited because of the pandemic.  This year they have mostly returned to their pre-covid form,  including the feast of Guadalupe patron saint of Mexico.  There are some new regulations such as the requirement to wear masks inside Guadalupe's main basilica in Mexico City, but the traditional observances are back.  The return of this beloved celebration is expected to draw record crowds, which does pose logistical problems, as laid out in these two articles.   

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/basilica-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe-in-mexico-city-anticipates-record-number-of-pilgrims/      

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/culture/guadalupes-pilgrims-an-annual-logistical-challenge-for-the-capital/                                                 

The period right before December 12, the feast day of Guadalupe is a spiritually intense as well as busy one, as pilgrims rush to reach their destinations by the night of December 11.

Car of a Guadalupe pilgrim in Yucatán

Guadalupe pilgrims at a stop along route in  Quintana  Roo, MX

These pre-pandemic articles from this blog offer a unique look at the Guadalupe celebrations  in places far from the Mexico City shrine.  

https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2017/02/guadalupe-in-paradise.html 

https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-race-for-guadalupe.html

Semana Santa is Back

Good Friday Procession, Antigua Guatemala

For the past two years, because of the Covid pandemic, many Latin American countries cut back or eliminated Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations.  This year most of this vivid  pageantry is back on schedule.  

In the United States, Easter observances are subdued and more or less private, interior events, although there is communal worship.  In Mexico and Latin America, observance is more public and enacted rather than being a matter of solely personal devotion.  This brings the events of Holy Week, the time directly leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, to life. The vivid displays are moving and unforgettable.  

                                              Building Sawdust Carpets, Antigua Guatemala

Procession, Antigua Guatemala

Good Friday Procession, Leon Nicaragua

Sawdust Carpet under construction, Leon Nicaragua

If you are unfamiliar with Semana Santa celebrations, I invite you to explore them through these links:

Holy Saturday in Merida Mexico: https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-resurrection-of-jesus-on-good.html

Holy Week Processions: https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2014/05/holy-week-processions-with-video.html

A unique Holy Thursday tradition: https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2014/05/jesus-in-jail-holy-thursday-in-antigua.html

One of a kind Holy Wednesday tradition rooted in medieval penitential practices: https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2016/04/taking-hit-holy-wednesday-in-nandaime.html 

Merging of sacred and profane during Holy Week: https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2016/06/sacred-meets-profane-holy-wednesday-in.html

The fantastic sawdust carpets of Antigua Guatemala:  https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-anatomy-of-sawdust-carpet-lent-in.html

Video of Holy Saturday Procession: https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2015/04/video-holy-saturday-procession.html

The Last Supper Comes to Life in Merida, Mexico:  https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-power-of-unique-image-capilla-de-el.html

The beautiful floral/plant/vegetable displays created for Holy Week:

https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-huertos-of-guatemala-and-nicaragua.html

The beautiful sawdust carpets of Nicaragua and their significance. 

https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2017/05/art-as-sacrifice-sawdust-carpets-of.html

Granada Nicaragua's  picturesque and one of a kind Via Crucis (stations of the cross)  done on Lake Nicaragua in boats, 

https://colonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2018/04/via-crucis-aquatic-granada-nicaragua.html