Honoring Semana Santa in Guatemala
Anyone who has spent time in Guatemala during Semana Santa (Holy Week) knows how remarkable the festivities around this significant time in the liturgical year can be. Guatemala and other primarily Catholic countries around the world celebrate Holy Week—the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday—with long processions throughout their communities. The faithful carry large, heavy wooden floats (‘andas’) featuring images of Jesus, Mary, and the Saints.
Throughout Guatemala, intricate alfombras (‘carpets’ or ‘rugs’) line the streets of the Good Friday and Easter procession routes. The alfombras are hand-made primarily with colorful dyed sawdust, pine needles, or wood shavings, and adorned with fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The alfombras depict religious imagery, scenes from the Bible, animals, or geometric patterns, and are often put together by different community groups and churches. It is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. The creation of the alfombras provides an opportunity for family and friends to come together and create this beautiful expression of faith and devotion to Jesus in commemoration of his loving sacrifice on the cross for humanity.
On Palm Sunday this year, Sugar Land Methodist Church (SLMC) in Sugar Land, Texas, came together as a community to create their own alfombra in honor of this beautiful Guatemalan tradition. SLMC has been a dedicated partner of Faith In Practice for nearly 30 years, with church members joining a number of different mission teams each year. This year, SLMC is leading its second mobility precision trip with Faith In Practice and will distribute mobility aids and provide medical evaluations and surgical referrals for the people of Huehuetenango, Guatemala.
Thank you to Sugarland Methodist Church for your continued support of Faith In Practice’s life-changing mission and for honoring our brothers and sisters in Guatemala!
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