In #ALas845 in a special program from Antigua Guatemala, Walter Enrique Gutiérrez Molina, graduate in History and Master in Art History from USAC, explored the origin, historical evolution, cultural meaning and artistic wealth of Holy Week in the colonial city, analyzing how this tradition has managed to be preserved for centuries and become one of the most emblematic religious and cultural manifestations in Latin America.
Gutiérrez said that the current Holy Week is a “reconfiguration” and since the 19th century the population has not gotten rid of it, despite the crises and opposition from the government.
“It is here in Antigua, formerly Santiago Guatemala, where the brotherhoods begin to operate, and the models come out so that they work throughout the kingdom, that is, in Honduras or Chiapas, for example. This is where the impulse is given to the brotherhoods,” he indicated.
Regarding the magnitude that is handled in Antigua Guatemala, with its characteristic splendor, the expert pointed out that there are three factors that mark it. “Since it is financeable, with the payment of the brothers it is already independent; in addition, everyone is responsible, due to tradition in the families and that changes every year. It is the only artistic expression of Guatemalans; a religious event that makes it part of the lives of many people,” he indicated.
The expert pointed out the complications that the celebration of Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala has had, starting with the earthquakes. “In the kingdom there were two but the others were the icing on the cake in the city. This time the captain general insisted on extinguishing debts and moving the city. But they also took the sculptures. The Jesús Nazareno de la Merced who is now in the capital left by order of the captain general, to the point that he ordered the box to be opened to verify that it was indeed the sculpture. This because he knew that people were also going to leave because at that time the devotion was great, so deep-rooted that people want to be with his Jesus who in 2028 will celebrate 200 years of being in the capital,” he said.
He added that the current Nazareno of La Merced de la Antigua remained “hidden” by a population that did not want to be taken away. He also mentioned that the Holy Burial of the School of Christ took shape since 1820 because it did have an interruption.
Regarding the characteristic clothing, the historian said that the difference is that in Antigua a “tapasol” is used in the style of the Holy Land. “It is not that old because it was from the 50s, but it was to give it realism. Another interesting thing about Good Friday is that everyone carries a spear, as a reminder of Jesus’ escort,” he explained.
About the music, he said that the original “no longer exists” from the baroque period, and when Holy Week “becomes the people” it takes the music of the martial bands. “They were arriving in America since 1840. It is contradictory that the Liberal Reform gives music to the processions,” he stated.
