EASTER...LATINO STYLE...REALLY? SEMANA SANTA/PASCUA...
Domingo Ivan Casaņas
April 15, 2006
On Sunday it will be Easter. The eggs and Easter bunnies are part of an American Easter. In Latin American countries, the Easter celebration has no bunnies or eggs. For instance in Mexico, Easter is a combination of Semana Santa (Holy Week-Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday). Pascua, (Resurrection Sunday until the following Saturday). Semana Santa celebrates the last days of Jesus Christ?s life. Pascua is the celebration of the Christ?s Resurrection. It is also the release from the sacrifices of Lent.
Depending on what City you are in, the Mexican people who tend to be mostly Roman Catholics attend mass and take Holy Communion to mark the this special day known as Domingo De Gloria (Easter). This is a special time for spiritual renewal, born of the hope promised by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the different communities you will hear the church bells with a joyous fervor. Easter is the most widely celebrated and important religious holiday of the year for most Latin American countries.
Semana Santa starts out on Palm Sunday when you see a large procession commemorating Jesus? Triumphal entry into Jerusalem before the mass. The blessing of the palm fronds or crosses and other figures that have been fashioned from palms. Some of the blessed palms are later burned and the ashes reserved by the church for marking the sign of the cross on the foreheads of communicants during Ash Wednesday services the following year.
Depending in what area you are in Mexico, some churches celebrate a late-afternoon vespers service called ?los matines de las tinieblas?, in which the disciples? abandonment of Jesus is recalled. A candelabra set with 15 candles illuminates the altar. One candle is extinguished after the singing of each Psalm until, at the end of the service, only the center candle, representing the Lord Jesus, remains lit.
The commemoration of Easter begins in earnest on Jueves Santo (Good Thursday). In the different cathedrals throughout Mexico, the Bishops celebrate special masses during which the Chrism, a sacred oil used in sacraments, is consecrated. In the evening many churches hold some type of re-enactment of the Last Supper. During Masses on this day the customary exchange of greetings of peace is omitted from the liturgy, a reminder of Judas? betrayal of Jesus. It is also customary to silence the church bells during the Triduo Pascual, (the three key days of the Easter holiday).
On Viernes Santos (Good Friday) in most towns and villages that you might visit you will find the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ will be remembered through a Passion Play, or a recreation of the Via Crucis, (the Way of the Cross). The town people are the amateur performers that play key roles in the Biblical story that is usually an all-day event. This Passion Plays end up with a simulated crucifixion. In other places there may be some type of solemn procession in which most of the populace participates as penitents. In addition, the Virgin Mary?s pain and suffering at the loss of her son may be recalled with the display of an Altar de Dolores, (an Altar of Sorrows).
Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is the time of the greatest of the holy vigils. In most areas a solemn evening mass during which each communicant lights a candle at the altar, holding it throughout the remainder of the ceremony. Following mass, participants usually gather outside the church for some comic relief with the raucous burning of Los Judas (Judas Iscariot and other forces of evil). The large papier-mache? effigies, usually painted in eye-popping colors, represent Judas, and other evil characters including the devil. These figures are hung up in the street or the central town plaza. Once the public has gathered, they are ignited in quick succession and, to the delight of all, are literally blown to bits. Thereby symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, which Christ?s Resurrection represents.
As you can read the Holy Week of Easter is a very special time for the Hispanic/Latino community. In most Latin America Countries there?s nothing that compares to Holy Week. The week before Easter schools are out for the entire week and then some. The story of the trial, death and resurrection of Jesus are told and performed in nearly every community.
In Chile a festival known as ?corer a Cristo,? (run to Christ) is a daylong celebration that begins with a mass, then a procession of the parish priest, drawn in a decorated carriage, and thousands of people shouting ?Viva Cristo Rey!? (Hooray Christ the King). Of course Music, dancing and food is included. So as you can see Jesus definately gets the attention He deserves.
Depending on what City you are in, the Mexican people who tend to be mostly Roman Catholics attend mass and take Holy Communion to mark the this special day known as Domingo De Gloria (Easter). This is a special time for spiritual renewal, born of the hope promised by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the different communities you will hear the church bells with a joyous fervor. Easter is the most widely celebrated and important religious holiday of the year for most Latin American countries.
Semana Santa starts out on Palm Sunday when you see a large procession commemorating Jesus? Triumphal entry into Jerusalem before the mass. The blessing of the palm fronds or crosses and other figures that have been fashioned from palms. Some of the blessed palms are later burned and the ashes reserved by the church for marking the sign of the cross on the foreheads of communicants during Ash Wednesday services the following year.
Depending in what area you are in Mexico, some churches celebrate a late-afternoon vespers service called ?los matines de las tinieblas?, in which the disciples? abandonment of Jesus is recalled. A candelabra set with 15 candles illuminates the altar. One candle is extinguished after the singing of each Psalm until, at the end of the service, only the center candle, representing the Lord Jesus, remains lit.
The commemoration of Easter begins in earnest on Jueves Santo (Good Thursday). In the different cathedrals throughout Mexico, the Bishops celebrate special masses during which the Chrism, a sacred oil used in sacraments, is consecrated. In the evening many churches hold some type of re-enactment of the Last Supper. During Masses on this day the customary exchange of greetings of peace is omitted from the liturgy, a reminder of Judas? betrayal of Jesus. It is also customary to silence the church bells during the Triduo Pascual, (the three key days of the Easter holiday).
On Viernes Santos (Good Friday) in most towns and villages that you might visit you will find the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ will be remembered through a Passion Play, or a recreation of the Via Crucis, (the Way of the Cross). The town people are the amateur performers that play key roles in the Biblical story that is usually an all-day event. This Passion Plays end up with a simulated crucifixion. In other places there may be some type of solemn procession in which most of the populace participates as penitents. In addition, the Virgin Mary?s pain and suffering at the loss of her son may be recalled with the display of an Altar de Dolores, (an Altar of Sorrows).
Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is the time of the greatest of the holy vigils. In most areas a solemn evening mass during which each communicant lights a candle at the altar, holding it throughout the remainder of the ceremony. Following mass, participants usually gather outside the church for some comic relief with the raucous burning of Los Judas (Judas Iscariot and other forces of evil). The large papier-mache? effigies, usually painted in eye-popping colors, represent Judas, and other evil characters including the devil. These figures are hung up in the street or the central town plaza. Once the public has gathered, they are ignited in quick succession and, to the delight of all, are literally blown to bits. Thereby symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, which Christ?s Resurrection represents.
As you can read the Holy Week of Easter is a very special time for the Hispanic/Latino community. In most Latin America Countries there?s nothing that compares to Holy Week. The week before Easter schools are out for the entire week and then some. The story of the trial, death and resurrection of Jesus are told and performed in nearly every community.
In Chile a festival known as ?corer a Cristo,? (run to Christ) is a daylong celebration that begins with a mass, then a procession of the parish priest, drawn in a decorated carriage, and thousands of people shouting ?Viva Cristo Rey!? (Hooray Christ the King). Of course Music, dancing and food is included. So as you can see Jesus definately gets the attention He deserves.
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