Sunday, April 13, 2014

Domingo de ramos // Palm Sunday

This Sunday marks the beginning of Semana Santa or Holy Week in which we begin by remembering how Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was accompanied by a great procession of people. Every year I have entered the church with palm branches, but I have never been apart of a procession quite like the one I experienced this year. The priest reminded us during the sermon that the day is not only about a procession through the pueblo, but that its a time to reflect on our own lives as well. However, this year it helped me experience what it could have been like in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. In my daily life in the US I am not used to processing through the streets and so sometimes our processions at home on Palm Stunday don't feel like they really could fit into real life. Yet, here I have been apart of many processions for various celebrations and so it felt familiar and comfortable and real.

The procession started at the church by my barrio and continuing up through several barrios or neighborhoods. We started at 10AM and didn't not arrive to the main church until almost 12PM when the mass took place.

Click here to listen to some of the music that accompanied us. I thought I would share some pictures.

Many houses are decorated with flowers and purple and white decorations. 

We met up the procession at the street corner before joining
and continuing on to through town and on to the main church. 

The representation of Jesus on a donkey was carried through the streets
and was proceeded by the "12 disciples."

The beginning of the procession.

Arriving at one of the local chapels.

Carrying the branches.

It was very hot out and so I was very thankful for those that greeted us at one
of the neighborhood chapels to handout agua de jamaica and cookies.

The procession entering the main part of town.

Mass took place outside.

My palm branch.

Blessing after mass for the palm branches.

The congregation waiting for the blessing of their palm branches. 

The congregation processing out at the end of mass.

Click here to see a video of the procession at the end of mass.