Guatemala is a country with a rich history and diverse population drawn from its indigenous roots and Spanish heritage. Throughout the year you will find a multitude of celebrations, but none is as large as Semana Santa in Guatemala.

Semana Santa is the week leading up to Easter and each day is a celebration. People stay awake all night creating elaborate alfombras (carpets) to be walked over by the next day’s procession. To participate in a procession is an act of penance. You help carry a large float made of solid hardwood, topped with statues brought out from the local churches in elaborate scenes. Even though you will carry this float with many other people it is very heavy, and you will feel its weight as you step through the streets while dressed in formal attire.

While watching one of these processions is impressive, I find it much more impressive to think that at any given time there are multiple processions happening throughout Guatemala in various towns and cities. This continues throughout the week until its culmination with 24 hours of processions and reenactments from Holy Saturday through Sunday.

It really makes you think of the scale of this celebration.