San Miguel de Allende is a place full of magic, charming streets, art everywhere and delicious food at its wide array of restaurants and bars. But during Holy Week, the streets of San Miguel are filled with processions, prayers and fireworks, especially on Viernes Santo (Good Friday), the day on which the Santo Encuentro and the Santo Entierro are performed.
Procession of the Santo Entierro
Viernes de Dolores, is the day in which the inhabitants of this city open their home’s doors so people can observe the different altars that are installed during these days.
On Viernes Santo (Good or Holy Friday) two main religious events take place in SMA: Santo Encuentro and Santo Entierro.
The first is performed at noon and is a representation of the meeting of Jesus with the Virgin Mary, which is commemorated with an image of the Nazarene carrying a cross to the slopes, which is taken to the Jardín where the images of Jesuschrist and the Virgin Mary meet.
Later, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, the Santo Entierro starts , the procession leaves out of the San Felipe Neri church. On this occasion the black garments predominate in the clothes of devotees, who carry the image of Christ while the Roman soldiers lead the procession.
Devotees carry the image of Christ while the Roman soldiers head the procession. (Photo: mexicodesconocido.com)
The intonation of the Christius Factus accompanied by sacred music and a brass orchestra is one of the peak moments of the ceremony.
Holy Week continues on Sábado de Gloria (Easter Saturday) with a beautiful procession where the attendants carry a candle in commemoration of the New Fire.
Finally, on Easter Sunday, images of Judas Iscariote (that mostly look like piñatas or small mojigangas) made of cardboard are not only burned, but literally blown up to pieces, in the middle of a great hubbub.
After Easter service, effigies of Judas and other unliked figures are strung up in El Jardin. The strung up piñata like, papier-maché figures are filled up with powder and then blown up. It is very likely that we will see more than one figure of Donald Trump exploding this year.
By Janeth Ochoa for mexicodesconocido.com.mx
Sources: mexicodesconocido.com.mx