Days of Holy Week - Viernes Santo

Good Friday

Viernes Santo, along with other days of Holy Week, Sabado de Gloria (Saturday before Easter) and Easter Sunday, form the most important parts of Semana Santa Guatemala.

La Sentencia

This is one of the most famous processions in Antigua, but it is held throughout the country. At 3 am, Roman centurions ride out of the church on horseback to proclaim Christ's sentence on the street. They read the edict at every street corner. This is the only time the band (also dressed as Romans) do not play funeral marches, but rather Roman music, which is more upbeat.

Jesús en Su Camino al Calvario

This procession leaves shortly after the Romans, at 4 am. The procession is kept quite simple, with the theme of Christ being taken to Calvary. The figure of Jesus carries his cross, which is usually quite heavily adorned.

Jesús Sepultado

This is the final procession(s) with Jesus during Semana Santa. Jesus has been crucified and the floats show his body, usually in a glass coffin, but sometimes just on a soft bed. This procession also covers all the Viacrucis, with a representation of each station of the cross. These may be individual floats that follow the main ones, or in some cities people act out each step at a predetermined location.

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