Semana Santa this year is going to be so very different from the past ones, governments are predicting a big jump on Covid infections so we encourage you all to take all necessary precautions and social distance as much as you can! Anyhoooow, we HAD to write a bit of one of the most interesting (albeit bloody) celebrations for you to keep on your bucket list for next year… when hopefully we will all be vaccinated and ready to explore!
Semana Santa was brought to Mexico by the Spanish and it’s one of the major celebrations of Catholic faith in the country. Spanish Holy week has several differences with English Easter Week, so don’t be confused if people are not as interested in the Easter Bunny and far more interested in the religious aspect of these days.
Holy Week events
Semana Santa begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday prior to Easter when the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem is commemorated. If you happen to go to church or live around one, you will see some intricate palm adornments that are brought to the church and will be blessed by the priest. People will bring them home and display them as Good Luck tokens.
Holy Thursday in Mexico is a day of mourning, in some of the more traditional enclaves, families will go to visit 7 churches and some of the largest processions will take place this day.
Good Friday and Holy Saturday are the most important celebratory days as they represent both the crucifixion of Christ, and his resurrection.
After a week of mourning and social penance Holy Sunday becomes a day of celebration for the resurrection of Jesus and the culmination of the Semana Santa.
Throughout the week and mainly in the most conservative cities there are several different processions, representations or events that showcase Mexican Catholicism. Churches are traditionally covered in purple (representing penance and mourning) and you can feel in the ambience a very different feeling that what is traditionally felt in Mexico. While this year celebrations have been cancelled keep this list in mind for next year,
Iztapalapa Not for the faint of heart! The Passion, in one of the poorest areas of Mexico City is perhaps the most complex of all them all. Every year, real life volunteers re enact with surgical precision the last moments of Christ on Earth with crucifixion included. Over 2 million people visited this neighborhood to experience the event in the past years. Covid has dramatically changed the event but it can be watched here.
Taxco, the beautiful Pueblo Magico just 3 hrs away from Mexico city had whole week events including several processions for its’ “Penitentes”. Three different brotherhoods would participate in the processions wearing long black robes, with a fabric hood and chained by the ankles, some of them lacerating themselves in different ways as to ask for forgiveness for their sins.
If you are interested in the ritual but do not want to participate in such dramatic events a beautiful procession is the Silence Procession in San Luis Potosi. One of the most staggering sights since it takes place at night the event marches at the rhythm of drums but with no human sound around. Fascinating photo opp for any aficionado! The city with a big Catholic tradition still celebrates throughout the week so it’s a great place to watch the traditions to its fullest.
Easter is a very important week for the millions of Catholics that live in Mexico, while some of them might take the week off to go to the beach there is still a large population that follows and thoroughly respects the Catholic traditions so please be as respectful as possible. If you decide to go to church an appropriate outfit is recommended.
The food
Lent in Mexico is known as Cuaresma and while it’s supposed to be a time of mourning and penitence it has given birth to some amazing recipes that you must try if you live in Mexico.
Since people give up meat, the most used ingredients aren seafood in variety. Our favourites are the Cod (bacalao) and the Caldo de Camaron (Shimp soup), if you are lucky to live in a traditional town you might find as well Tortitas de Camaron, which are normally added in some salsa. Another food commonly eaten throughout the is empanadas de vigilia. These empanadas are made with a flour pastry shell and stuffed with seafood. A dessert that is often served during this time of year is capirotada, which is a kind of Mexican bread pudding with raisins and cheese.
Etiquette
You would be surprised of how Mexicans live religion, your same colleague hat normally parties till the morning will probably act very different around the family in these holidays, please be aware, for the most traditional cities, parties are not welcome over this period, however if you only want to take advantage of the days off we encourage you to go to the beach and relax!
Happy Easter everyone!
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