Colorful Solemnity

Experience Holy Week in Benque Viejo del Carmen

Semana Santa or Holy Week is the major liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church leading up to the feast of Easter. In contrast to a time of relaxation and partying that takes place in other parts of the country, in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Easter is a solemn yet colorful time.

The practice of Catholicism in Belize's most western town is rooted in the resettlement of an immigrant community in the mid-1800’s from Petén (Guatemala) and Yucatán (Mexico).

The highlight of Holy Week is the Easter Triduum which starts on Holy Thursday with the commemoration of the paschal mysteries of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ leading to the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The liturgy flows into Good Friday with the Via Crucis or Stations of the Cross being dramatized through the streets. The drama of the crucifixion casts 30 actors and was first performed in 1992. The largest procession of the year, el Santo Entierro, moves out of the church at 6pm with the corpus of Jesus Christ laid in an elegant catafalque, carried by some fifty men. El Santo Entierro moves through the principal streets of the town over alfombras (carpets); colorful tapestries carefully crafted by town folk who use dyed sawdust to fill out patterns and designs on the streets where the procession is scheduled to pass.

The creation of these alfombras is done by families, community groups, and even graffiti artists, along the processional route. All throughout the day, scores of people work diligently to create colorful designs that get more and more elaborate every year. Despite the austerity that is called for on Good Friday, the elaborate carpets adorning the streets have created a festive yet sound atmosphere which brings families and neighbors together.

Over the years, this celebration of Holy Week has become a solid strand in the cultural tapestry of Benque Viejo del Carmen. The display of fervor and artistry attracts locals and foreigners to engage in a mystical experience with a community nestled in the outskirts of the Maya Mountains.

Written by: David N. Ruiz

Photos: Jenny Guerra