Whats more important? Jesus or Easter Eggs?
Day 64
Against all odds we managed to find accommodation in Antigua, during Semanta Santa. Antigua is one of the places where Semanta Santa (Easter week) is celebrated most fervently in Central America. There are numerous processions each day, usually involving an huge effigy of Christ and the Virgin Mary paraded through the streets. The effigy itself is carried by up to 50 people for a block and by about 1000 people through the course of the day. The streets are filled with incense and the procession route is paved with alfombras (carpets) made from either flowers or coloured sawdust in intricate patterns. In addition each church in Antigua (we counted over eight) had a new velacion (ornate depiction of Christ) each day. Its really quite full on, and a million miles away from Easter eggs and Easter bunnies! Alarmingly some American kids had to have the story of Easter explained to them as they had no real concept of what Easter meant beyond Easter eggs and started crying at the sight of Jesus on the cross. What has the world come to?