We Can Relate to the Pain, but Not to the Hope.

For the past ten days, I have been living in La Antigua, Guatemala, the former Spanish colonial capital of the country. My experiences have been riddled with lots of learning, lots of fun, and lots of new faces and friends. My days are filled with conjugating Spanish verbs and memorizing vocabulary, while my evenings are filled with wandering the streets and frequenting bars with new amigos.

One thing that you hear a lot about here in Antigua is Semana Santa,the Holy Week festivities. The streets are lined with alfombras, natural carpets of flower petals and pine needles, something which is a holdover from indigenous Mayan beliefs. Cofraidas, religious brotherhoods, parade through the streets with processions bearing the images of Christ and the Madonna. The trial and sentencing of Christ is re-enacted every Good Friday, and at about 4:30 pm, the town is decorated with black crepe paper. The residents dress in all black, and somber processions are held down the streets, waving black banners that are engraved with the last words of Christ. The processions are held in silence, and an image of Christ is "laid to rest" in the church at about 11 pm. Funeral processions continue on Holy Saturday, although all becomes quiet for Easter Sunday. There is nothing that grand to commemorate the resurrection of Christ.

I asked my teacher about this reversal from our typical Easter celebrations: a quiet and reflective week, followed by a joyous celebration. And all she said was: "We can relate to the pain, but not to the hope."