Holy Week In Guatemala: Members Of The Brotherhoods Of The Churches Prepare The Carriers For Processions Editorial Image

A group of devotees, members of one of the brotherhoods of the Church of Saint Dominick, in the Historic Center of Guatemala City, prepare a processional platform that will carry one of the images in procession during the Holy Week celebrations in the country. Holy Week in Guatemala is the celebration of the passion and death of Christ, through the processions carried out by the brotherhoods of all the parishes nationwide, during the period between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, usually at the end of March and beginning of April annually. In addition to religious aspects, it is a phenomenon of a sociocultural and tourist nature of great importance. Processions are characterized by colorful sawdust carpets that adorn the streets, and images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried on shoulders by large congregations for periods of up to eighteen hours in large carriers. Each procession is accompanied by Symphonic Bands that interpret funeral or festive marches. The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020 forced the suspension of processions for two years, coming back in 2022 after the brotherhoods and authorities implemented Biosafety Protocols.