During Semana Santa, the scent of wet sawdust and pine permeates the air in Guatemala. Before Easter, the streets are decorated with elaborate, colorful alfombras de aserrín – made of sawdust, flowers, palm leaves, and other organic matter – that
feature religious and cultural figures
.
How are the alfombras created?
The carpets are painstakingly
made by hand
. … Sawdust is the primary medium, though pine needles, wood shavings, bottle caps, and even tea bags are also used to create alfombras. Fruits, vegetables, and flowers like carnations, bougainvillea, chrysanthemums, and roses are often added as finishing touches.
What are the alfombras used in Semana Santa celebrations?
The most amazing part of Antigua’s Semana Santa celebration, however, are the colorful carpets or “alfombras” that line the streets.
Sand or sawdust
is used to level the cobblestones, and is dyed different colors and interwoven with bright flowers, other plants, pine needles and even fruits.
What is the origin of Alfombras de Aserrin?
Alfombras de aserrín, or “sawdust carpets,” are typically made during Holy Week to celebrate
Easter in Guatemala
. … MassMu’s Guatemalan carpet artwork was created by Hector Castellanos Lara with immigrants and refugees from Central America and Mexico, and volunteers from Immigrant Worker Project.
What are the alfombras of Guatemala created for?
During Semana Santa, the scent of wet sawdust and pine permeates the air in Guatemala. Before Easter, the streets are decorated with elaborate, colorful alfombras de aserrín – made of sawdust, flowers, palm leaves, and other organic matter – that
feature religious and cultural figures
.
What do they eat during Semana Santa?
The ultimate food for Semana Santa in Seville is
torrijas
. These delicious treats are essentially Spain’s answer to French toast, bread soaked in honey, eggs, and white wine and lightly fried. Some of our favorite torrijas also have a dash of cinnamon.
What is the English word for Semana Santa?
noun. In Spain and Spanish-speaking countries: = “
Holy Week
“.
How long does it take to make Alfombras?
Making of the Carpets takes a team of volunteers who use colored sawdust, petals, fruit to form specialy made patterns. Some alfombras or carpets can take a team of
20 people 12 hours
to design and finish.
What happens to the carpets after the procession passes by?
The carpet designs reflect Maya tradition, biblical symbolism and scenes from nature. The art of carpet-making is thought of as sacrificial because of the intense detail and amount of time dedicated to their creation, only to be
destroyed
once the processions pass.
What are sawdust carpets used for during Semana Santa?
Sawdust carpets are traditionally created
to greet a religious procession that walks over them
. The tradition of decorating streets in this fashion began in Europe and was brought to the Americas by the Spanish.
What is a Paso in Semana Santa?
A Paso (Spanish: “Episode of the Passion of Christ”) is
an elaborate float made for religious processions
. They are carried by porters on staves, like a litter or sedan chair, and are usually followed or escorted by a band.
How does Spain celebrate Semana Santa?
Semana Santa is a week-long celebration that takes place in cities all over Spain – particularly in Andalucia. During the festival,
thousands of people take part in processions as massive floats carrying religious statues are brought to the church
.
Does the clothing change for each procession?
The clothing tends to change depending on the procession
. On Good Friday, the people in the processions are the saddest (because Good Friday is the day Jesus died), so there are the women in mourning who are wearing all black with black veils covering their eyes.
In what country would you find the Comayagua street carpets Alfombras?
Each year, on the morning Good Friday, devout citizens of Comayagua,
Honduras
take to the streets to create temporary “Alfombras” (or “carpets”) depicting religious scenes.
How long are the Holy Week processions?
A single procession can last
more than 18 hours
, often starting or ending before daybreak.
What is the name of the floats in Guatemala?
Whether they are marching solemnly in formation or carrying one of the huge floats, these penitents are an important part of the celebrations. Known as
“cucuruchos
” to locals, they are Catholic worshippers who want to prove their faith by taking part in the processions.
