During the six weeks of Lent, a variety of celebrations and events take place. Each week follows a similar schedule with the culmination being a large procession on the given Sunday. Five of the surrounding towns host these processions: Santa Catalina Bobadilla, Santa Inés del Monte Pulciano, Jocotenango, Santa Ana and San Bartolomé Becerra and the sixth Sunday is the celebration of Palm Sunday – Domingo de Ramos.
During each week, a variety of smaller events take place – children’s processions, Velaciónes, and the Via Crucis to name but a few.
Let me start with the Via Crucis. It is an act of devotion that follows the Stations of the Cross representing Christ’s trials from his sentencing to his ultimate crucifixion on mount Calvary – el Calvario. This devotion is manifested differently around the area with the smaller towns having quite intimate processions, where individuals set up small alters in front of their houses as the Stations of the Cross, as in the town of San Juan del Obispo...
In Antigua the Via Crucis is from the Church of San Francisco along the Calle de los Pasos to the Church of El Calvario. These are the colonial Stations of the Cross and the devoted follow the Calle de los Pasos on Friday afternoons, stopping at each Station of the Cross for prayers….
