IMPACT
APRIL 2014
D I SCOVERING T R ADI T I ON S
A CELEBRATION OF FAITH AND CULTURE Colorful festivities highlight Holy Week in Guatemala
T
he food, decorations and devotions that are part of Holy Week in Guatemala make a cornucopia for the senses.
For Dora Hernandez, a translator for Unbound in Guatemala,
Holy Week is a time to celebrate her faith and culture. And it’s an impressive sensory experience. “The mixture of the smells of incense, palm, fireworks, pine needles, moistened sawdust, fresh tropical fruits, flower arrangements, grilled fish and tamales is amazing,” Dora said. One of the wonderful benefits of sponsoring a child or elder is forming a friendship with someone from another culture and learning about that person’s traditions. Dora Hernandez, translator for Unbound, Guatemala.
As a staffer since 2006, Dora translates letters from spon(continued)
OVERHEARD
MAIL CALL!
“My sponsorships [are] a way to teach my two children about another country in a personal, and fun, way. … My kids love to compare the similarities and differences of their experiences.”
Showers of spring letters from sponsored friends began arriving in March. Unbound volunteers will process more than 310,000 letters this spring. One will even make it to your mailbox!
— Christie, sponsor since 2010 We’d love to hear from you, too. Email your sponsorship story and photos to outreach@unbound.org.
In 2014, the city of Antigua, Guatemala, is expected to attract about
200,000 tourists for Holy Week.
ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
Vistors and locals check out elaborate street carpets.
(continued from front)
each other.”
cessions. (See story below.)
sored friends and sponsors. She has
Holy Week, the week before Easter
seen countless letters in which they
(April 13-19 this year), is a time of prayer
between Unbound’s work and the liber-
share their traditions with each other.
and gratitude, Dora said.
ating, life-giving message of Easter.
Scott Wasserman, president and chief executive officer of Unbound, said such sharing deepens friendships.
“This is a very spiritual time of the year for our country.”
Dora
sees
a
strong
connection
“Unbound is also bringing liberation to those in need,” she said. “It is provid-
Tourists flock to Guatemala during
ing dignity for the families.
“Your friendship gives hope to your
Holy Week, known locally as Semana
“Sponsorship provides a path for
sponsored friend,” Scott said. “Sharing
Santa, to take part in the rich traditions.
their liberation from poverty, not only to
cultural traditions helps you and your
Guatemala is especially known for the
have more but be more.”
sponsored friend to know and respect
colorful carpets that line Holy Week pro-
Carpets line Holy Week processions
U
nbound staff member Dora Hernandez and her family in Guatemala have a special way of celebrating Holy Week. They make colorful car-
pets used to line the routes of processions. The carpets are made of colored sawdust, fresh flowers, pine needles and other natural materials. They’re offered as a way to give thanks as the image of Jesus passes through. “It’s also part of our tradition, our culture, our unique way of celebrating and decorating our community this time of year,” Dora said. Dora’s family prepares to make their carpet two to three months before Holy Week. They create designs hand carved from wood in the shapes of flowers, religious figures or patterns. About 10 hours before the procession, they create the carpet. “We start [with] a thick layer of white sand and then we spread out a layer of natural colored sawdust,” Dora said. “Then we start creating our design with colored sawdust and natural materials.” People usually make carpets the length of their homes. “But there are carpets the size of a whole street,” Dora said. “So five or up to 100 people can get involved in making a carpet.”
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A man puts the finishing touches on a carpet made from flowers, pine needles and other natural materials.
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