Laura chose the Piers Chapter Robinson version of Peter Pan because of its unique musical accessibility for both young and older students and its upbeat, catchy, fun story – “Not as many ballads as Broadway” as Laura says.    The play was almost entirely student run.  Grades K- 9 contributed to the acting, directing, back stage management, and set design!   Peter Pan was played by Antonio Barreras, a 7th grader, Wendy was played by Alejandra Vásquez, an 8th grader, Captain Hook was played by Solveig Barrios, a 9th grader and supporting roles like Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys were played by students from grades K-5.

The energy certainly carried over on the two feature nights with the high-flying Darlings, an outstanding Captain Hook, and Peter’s engaging audience-participation, along with a host of other special, magical theater moments.  We hope to see you in the audience next year!

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When it comes to coffee, Guatemala is up there with the stars. And talking of stars – the Hollywood variety – I was invited to a coffee tasting for Rumer Willis, the actress daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, and her boyfriend, the actor Jayson Blair, at the Porta Hotel here in La Antigua.

Natalia Rodríguez from Café Barista gave an extremely informative talk about Guatemala coffee in general which was followed by a tasting of Antigua, Cobán and Huehuetenango regional coffees. It was amazing how much they appreciated the differences between the regions: Huehuetenango scored the most points, with the Antigua coffee coming in second.

This was the second visit to Guatemala for Rumer. She was here a few years ago, volunteering for an NGO building houses; you can really see how much she loves Guatemala as she travels with her boyfriend.

The highlight of their visit was the Canopy Tour at Finca Filadelfia.  They found it “unreal” and “exciting” with “great views.” They also traveled to Lake Atitlán where they visited Santiago Atitlán and San Juan La Laguna. They spent time at the San Juan women’s weaving cooperative, which they loved.

They stayed at the Porta Hotel here in La Antigua, and when I saw them, they were looking forward to the Media Luna massage for couples at the Ceiba Spa – a little relaxation before heading off on another adventure to Tikal.

Whilst in La Antigua they ate and drank at Bistrot Cinq, Fridas, Como Como and Café No Sé.

One thing that really concerned them was the number of stray dogs throughout Guatemala. As dog owners, they really want to help, and hopefully they’ll be contacting Aware (www.animalaware.org) to make a donation or even adopt a dog or two!

As a final note, the lasting impression of Guatemala for them is the smiling people. One can only smile back!

The post Hollywood Stars Visit La Antigua Guatemala appeared first on Que Pasa Magazine.

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The Rap Solo Festival allows music enthusiasts a chance to discover new music styles from Guatemala. And fans of rap and hip hop will be especially excited to discover that Guatemala’s underground music scene is offering up something a bit more edgy than what’s popularly played in clubs and bars. This festival will definitely be a break from overplayed beats with lots of cool new vibes.

This year’s Rap Solo Festival, organized by the Colectivo Revolución Hip Hop, will be held on Friday, April 19th at El Gran Hotel’s Salón de Oro in Zona 1 of Guatemala City. Performing will be the most renowned and talented Guatemalan MCs: Bacteria SoundSystem Crew, Poesía Callejera, Última Dosis, VL One, and Expresión Ilegal. Joining them will be Chilean artists Bubaseta and DJ Sadeec and the Salvadorian band Rompiendo El Silencio. The more the merrier!

Bacteria SoundSystem Crew (B.S.C)
Bacteria Soundsystem Crew (BSC) was formed in 2007 as a result of the coming together of different artists, each with a highly regarded individual career. Bacteria Soundsystem Crew is made up of MCs and singers: Plenno (a.k.a. Ser Supremo), Divari Pashuli (a.k.a. Killa Clown, Jhonny Cage), Ele 2 (a.k.a Poeta Urbano/Tata Lirical), and Kame (a.k.a. Sr. Rima/EkisEkis), as well as K.O. Selectah (a.k.a. Fla-K.O.), the DJ and crew representative. In October 2009, they released their first studio material entitled El Mix Tape followed two months later by the release of their first music video for the song “La Virula”, a chapín word for bicycle. Since then, Bacteria Soundsystem Crew has been steadily growing and evolving, participating in various events and festivals throughout Guatemala and Central America.

YouTube Videos: La Virula (The Bicycle), Lo que veo (What I See), Somos Juventud (We Are Youth), Como Yo Quisiera (How I Want It)

Latest EP for free download: bacteriasoundsystemcrew.com

VL One
In 2004, Bra, Cope, Primys and Kevo, four young people who grew up in fringe and dangerous neighborhoods in Guatemala City, got together and started with a small mixtape entitled “Mentes Safadas” (Crazy Minds). After increasing their collaborations with other MCs from the chapín hip hop scene, they decided to take their VL One group seriously and now produce, edit, and compose their own music.

YouTube Videos: Don’t be scared, Lágrimas de Sangre (Tears of Blood), Grupos Temporales (Temporary Groups), and Por eso me mantengo (For This I Keep Myself)

Ultima Dosis
The group Última Dosis was formed in September 2012 and is made up of Kontra, N.D.R., and Rebecca Lane. Última Dosis presents itself as “the artistic collective that broke with the models and stereotypes associated with a movement that was stigmatized and ostracized by everyone.”

YouTube Videos: Sucia Ciudad (Dirty City)
Latest EP for free download: bit.ly/16CT5A0

Bubaseta
The Chilean MC from Quilpué began singing in 2000 with the group Alcatraz. With Ninja Sekta, his third group, Bubaseta released the album Super Ninjas (2006) which earned him the respect in the regional hip hop scene. Increasingly popular, Bubaseta quickly became known for his voice and his particular way of singing which was unconventional for the rap scene. In 2007, Bubaseta decided to leave the group to form a new one with Brizy, called King Kong Click. After releasing La Ley Del Simio (The Law of the Ape) which was very popular in the Chilean hip hop scene, Bubaseta released El Juego Sucio (Foul Play) in 2009, his first solo album. The album Aviones de Papel (Paper Airplanes) was one of the most downloaded and sold Chilean rap albums in 2010.

YouTube Videos: El Juego Sucio (The Dirty Game), Tu Mundo (Your World), Cuatro Compases (Four Measures), Aviones de Papel (Paper Airplanes), La Vida un Freestyle (Life a Freestyle), 4 Rillaz

Poesia Callejera
A Guatemalan group that started in 2008 after the successful participation of one of its members (TV) in the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos (an annual Freestyle competition among Spanish-language rap artists). Kevin (Reallity), Lervin (Biller), David (El Profe), Gustavo (TV), and Luis Fernando (Psycho) decided to join up as a crew. Poesía Callejera is composed of three MCs (Reality, TV, and Psycho), two writers (Biller and Psycho), and a professor of hip-hop culture. Through their controversial style, their lyrics explore various ideas like respect for women, protests against the system, and partying.

Latest album for free download: bit.ly/WQMeiI

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The photos of graffiti were taken in Guatemala City by Mathieu Hutin. 
mateoh.photoshelter.com

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By now, you have probably noticed that the city of La Antigua is resplendent in purple during the month of March because of Lent, and the biggest event celebrated every year is here: Semana Santa or Holy Week. The whole city and the surrounding towns commemorate these holy days with a variety of activities and events, and since there simply isn’t enough time to enjoy them all, Qué Pasa presents some of the best and most important ones below.

Alfombras

The world-famous alfombras (or carpets) are made from colored sawdust, flowers, sand, and many other materials which are typical of the celebrations in La Antigua, and you can see them in their maximum splendor during Holy Week. Some of the must-see ones are:

• Maundy (Holy) Thursday: On the streets around San Francisco El Grande Church, around midday, you’ll find some of the most intricate designs, especially along the Calle del Hermano Pedro.

• Maundy Thursday night into the morning of Good Friday: The Calle Ancha de los Herreros is the perfect place to see many of the best alfombra designs, some of which are family traditions dating back more than 80 years. Start your walk around 2 AM (yes, in the wee hours of the morning, but you’ll find thousands of others wandering the streets, too) to see the various patterns and teams at work.

• Also, that same night, walk along 7a Avenida Norte to the corner of Callejón Camposeco (to the north of 1a Calle), right in front of Kaffee Fernando’s. Not only will you see the alfombra, but you’ll be able to smell it, too, since it’s made of coffee and cocoa husks – so be careful if your weakness is chocolate! Half a block north, you’ll also find a sand alfombra about 60 feet long, right in front of Tienda San Antonio de Don Chepe Armas, and it’s one of the ones with the most intricate designs in the city.

• Good Friday: around 9 AM, once you’ve had a nap after your overnight sightseeing, you can start your walk from the corner of 7a Calle Oriente and 1a Avenida Sur (at the side entrance of San Francisco El Grande Church) heading north, and then turn left on 4a Calle Oriente, where you’ll find a beautiful flower alfombra before you reach the corner of 2a Avenida Norte.

Food and Drinks

Especially for Holy Week, Guatemalans prepare delicious meals which have their roots in the Colonial Era and have been influenced by Arab, Pre-Hispanic, and even Caribbean Garífuna cooking. There are also special drinks for this time of year, so don’t miss out on these:

• Chinchivir drink: This is made from several varieties of limes and spices, and originally was a refreshment especially for cucuruchos (the men who carry the platforms in the processions). You can find it at Tienda San Antonio de Don Chepe Armas (7a Avenida Norte). But don’t be confused, even though the locale is a hardware store which sells incense for processions and the materials to create alfombras, you’ll find the best chinchivir here!

• Súchiles beverage: If you’re on your way to the church in the village of San Felipe de Jesús to look at the alfombras on Good Friday, you’ll see several signs advertising súchiles. Try it! It’s a fermented beverage made from fruit with ginger and sugar. The refreshing drink is sold all during Lent and Semana Santa.

• Vizcaína-style Fish: This dish is usually made with cod, and it’s traditional during this time of year. Even though Guatemalans don’t normally eat a lot of fish, during Lent and Semana Santa, many Catholics give up red meat as penance, and several dishes are prepared with dried fish. The Vizcaína style is cooked with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes.

• Molletes: This is a type of Guatemalan bread, filled with a sweet mixture of butter and raisins, which is then coated with an egg batter, fried, and finally soaked in a sugary syrup. You can find them at street vendors’ carts and especially at velaciones.

Events

The reenactments of the last days of Jesus Christ are numerous and start each year on Ash Wednesday. You may think that all processions look the same every year; they do, to a certain extent, but each year they vary somewhat in designs and themes. You can choose several events to attend, but if you want to experience the most popular and important, the ones described here should not be missed.

• Velaciones (Holy Vigils): These religious events happen every Friday during Lent and they are very good opportunities to see up close the images of Jesus of Nazareth and the Virgin Mary which will be used in the procession of that church on its appointed Sunday during Lent. Inside each church, a scene from a Biblical passage is portrayed using the images and special effects. Outside the church, many street vendors start selling food at about noon and continue until the early hours of the following morning. The velaciones you won’t want to miss out on are the ones from Jocotenango, Santa Ana and San Bartolomé Becerra during Lent and the one at San Francisco El Grande during Holy Week.

• San Bartolomé Becerra Procession. This procession is the most famous and most viewed during Lent. It happens on the Fifth Sunday of Lent and the procession’s path meanders through the city of La Antigua, finishing in the early morning of Monday. Usually around 100,000 people come into the city for this event and one of the most impressive points to see the procession is when it reaches the Parque Central. Another amazing sight during this procession is to see it early Monday morning near the San Lázaro Cemetery as the procession leaves La Antigua, since, as a tradition, the cucuruchos turn the platform around so that the image of Jesus of Nazareth can face the city one more time and a complete and deep bow to the city is made with the platform.

• Holy Monday, Huerto of La Merced: Huertos (or gardens) are made inside churches with offerings – usually the best fruits and vegetables – brought by parishioners for decoration. The offerings are arranged near the altar to create an alfombra of colored sand, fruit and vegetables. Among the huertos, the one on Holy Monday at La Merced Church stands out, since it stretches all the way from the altar to about halfway from the front doors.

• Maundy Thursday Visitation of Church Tabernacles: One Catholic tradition in La Antigua is to visit seven different church tabernacles starting at 6 PM on this day. It’s a very special way to visit the insides of churches and to see some of the ones which are specially decorated for the occasion. You can start at the Cathedral, and make sure to enter the ruins of the Cathedral (behind the current parish church), which will be beautifully decorated and candlelit. After which, you should be sure to visit at least San Francisco El Grande and La Merced.

• Good Friday, Proclamation of the Judgment: Starting around midnight, Roman centurions ride their horses from the atrium of La Merced Church to several points in the city to read the Proclamation of Judgment. The best place to witness this is right at the church, because there will be a large group of soldiers both on foot and on horseback. At the atrium, you will also see a mannequin hanging from one of the trees; it represents Judas Iscariot.

• Good Friday, Act of Crucifixion and Lowering of the image of the Entombed Jesus to its glass coffin at the Escuela de Cristo Church: At this church at noon, a very solemn act is performed: the image of Jesus is lowered into its glass coffin and placed on the processional platform (the anda) to exit the church at 3 PM. The event is impressive because the movements of the image’s articulated limbs seem almost real. The processional platform is also beautifully decorated, and the Stations of Cross represented by small andas, each with different images, precede it.

For the times and dates of the events listed in this article, as well as other Lenten and Semana Santa events, turn to our calendar starting on page 32 and look for the cross symbols.

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Photos by: Sergio Berducido

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You were born in Sumpango. What is your personal history with the kites?
When I was nine, I made my first kite, a small kite at school. We didn’t have the materials so we used newspaper. My uncles and my grandfather were barrileteros who worked with the giant kites. My grandfather worked in Guatemala City and I remember him bringing home packets of colored tissue paper, papel de china, which we use to make the giant kites.

I was invited to join the group Happy Boys when I was sixteen. They are known for having many artists and for being innovative. Members of the group came to my house to find me and ask if I would like to join their group. Many times the groups invite children to learn and to join them. Sometimes the children themselves ask to join the groups.

Every group is organized differently. In Happy Boys we pay careful attention to detail; this is a rule of our group. If we make a face, we make it realistic; if we’re making a figure wearing traje típico, we reproduce the actual design of the huipil in the tissue paper. When we portray a Guatemalan landscape, we make it as realistic as possible so that the people who see the kites can imagine the place which looks like what they are seeing. Sometimes we have to cut the paper in 5-millimeter or 3-millimeter sizes. When I joined Happy Boys in 1994, they were already designing shapes outside of the traditional octagon – they were the first group to do this.

Making kites as large as 20 meters with such intricate designs with tissue paper is an enormous undertaking. How are the groups organized?  What is the first job for a new barrileteros? The first task you do in the group is to cut the paper. It’s the lowest level job: where you have to start and where you begin learning. After two or three years, you begin learning how to put the different pieces together to make figures or animals.

Some groups have one designer, an artist who draws the kite; others design the kite together. The jobs depend on the skills and abilities of the person. Maybe the person can draw part of the design or even the whole design of the kite. Or perhaps he can combine the colors – there are people very skillful at that. Also the colors change with the sunlight and during different times of the day, so the person must consider that. Then there are the coordinators who put the kite together and oversee the work on different parts of the kites – they must have eight to ten years of experience with the kites.

How many hours do the barrileteros spend working on their kites for the festival?
It’s better to count the time in months than in hours. We begin constructing the kites in July and finish on the day of the festival, November 1^st.

During the week, Monday through Friday nights, we start at seven at night and work until one or two in the morning. On the weekends we begin at two in the afternoon on Saturday and work until noon on Sunday, throughout the night. Most of the kite makers are not married; they’re students and workers of all types, for example accountants, factory workers, lawyers, carpenters, electricians and farmers. So one big part of working with the kites is living this life and experiencing what it is to make a kite day by day. You form relationships with the people in your group and the barrileteros in other groups. On the weekends the group members share food and time together as well as work.

How many people in Sumpango participate in making kites?
Between 75 to 80 groups, about 600 barrileteros, participate in making kites for the festival. Apart from the festival, the majority of the people in Sumpango prepare kites for Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day). Many people here don’t go to the festival because it is very crowded, so they prefer to stay home with their families and fly their kites at home or in the cemetery.

Thousands of people come to Sumpango for the festival on November 1^st. How has tourism affected the celebration of All Saints’ Day and the spiritual meaning of the kites in Sumpango?
Before the festivals, the kites were our tradition, a tradition from those before us. But over the years, with the growth of the festival, we adopted another meaning, a social and cultural meaning, which addresses the social problems we have in our village, in our country and in the world, with issues like ecology and discrimination. So our way is changing to have more social messages which others can see, and our culture is carried within the kites. By exhibiting our kites, we’re trying to bring a message of peace to the world which is much needed. And we imagine that in fifty years our kids are going to be here making kites with different messages, but always with the same goal: taking the message to other people.

The kites from the Happy Boys have been exhibited both within Guatemala and internationally. Tell us about this.
In the cases where we’ve traveled with the kites – Colombia was the first country to invite us to their festival in 1999, then France and the United States, and now to Singapore – the countries have invited us to exhibit the kites and also I will teach workshops there. We have also shipped the kites to twenty-five or thirty other countries that wanted to exhibit them, including Italy, Spain and Germany.

How have people reacted to the kites in these international exhibitions?
When I traveled to France with the kites in 2010, the people were very appreciative and excited because they use technology and synthetic materials like Kevlar for their kites. They couldn’t imagine that simple paper could resist 200-300 meters of air pressure. When our kite landed they ran to it to touch it and to see it more closely. They thought the kite was painted but when they touched it and looked closely, they saw that the kite is like a giant puzzle made of paper. They became very interested in Guatemala and in visiting here. Before, many of them didn’t know where Guatemala was.

In your workshop on kite making, you said that the traditional eight-sided Guatemalan kites made for All Saints’ Day had a spiritual significance. Can you talk about this? 
Oral tradition tells us that los flecos, the fringe or cut papers attached to the outer four sides of the traditional octagonal kite, make a sound when they are rustled by the wind. This sound keeps the bad spirits away from the cemetery.

Are messages to the ancestors a part of this tradition?
Yes, my uncles and other older people call them telegramas. You write a phrase for someone who has died on a piece of paper. Then you make a hole in the paper and put it on the string of the kite. The message moves up the string with the wind. When it touches the kite, it’s been received by the spirit to whom it was sent. After the message is received the string of the kite was cut so the message would go to eternity. If a child has more kites, he will cut the string when his message is received. But if the child only has one kite, he will put the message aside and fly the kite again.

The themes and the designs of the kites change every year. Do you think that 2012, the end and beginning of the Maya epochs, will be an important theme in the kites this year?
I can’t tell you. The group members do not talk about the theme or designs of their kites. We do not know what the other groups are making. In some groups, most of the members themselves don’t know the theme of their kite or see its entire design until November 1^st.

If you’re with two friends who belong to different kite groups, the topic of the kites is not brought up. You can talk about other things, but you don’t talk about the kites or their design. The older members of the group teach this to the little ones. All the members of the groups in Sumpango agree to this secrecy. In all other ways, we work in solidarity with the other groups. If one group needs a color of paper, for example, we use trueque, the exchange system used by the Mayas, to trade colors. If a group needs money for materials, but doesn’t have it, they go to another group for help. We work together to cut the bamboo and get it from the coast. We share, but we never talk about our designs.

Why do you keep making kites? It takes enormous time and effort and also the barrileteros have to contribute money for the materials.When the event is finished you don’t want to think about kites any more. You want to take a rest because your knees and your elbows hurt from working on the floor; your shoulders hurt from carrying the bamboo and putting up the kite; your hands hurt from cutting the paper; you are very tired. So you rest for one month. And then work begins again on the design for the next year.

Making kites is a tradition which makes you use your creativity. What you have left after doing the kite is the satisfaction of being able to express your ideas or what you feel. It is not about material reward. It is having the opportunity to experience how you feel on that one day when you finally see the completed kite. And many other people are seeing it too. You feel like an artist, like a painter who has finished a painting and then shows it to the public. You feel the satisfaction of people seeing your art and also that this work of art was completed.

The kite groups of Sumpango receive no monetary support from INGUAT or other government agencies for the festival or for the international exhibition of their kites. Business and organizations can sponsor a kite or make donations directly in support of the giant kites by contacting jrhijodelviento@yahoo.es

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For more information contact the Comité de Autogestión Turística Sacatepéquez catsacatepequez@yahoo.com or call 5204-3369.

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St. James

Saint James (or Santiago in Spanish) is the patron saint of La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala (The Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Saint James of the Knights of Guatemala), which is today known as La Antigua, and on July 25^th his memory is honored. Traditionally, on the 24^th and 25^th of the month, there is a big celebration at Parque Central complete with dancing, fireworks and music, but there are many more festivities than just that. In true Guatemalan fashion, Antigüeños celebrate the whole month of July! The schedule of events is available this month at the city’s public relations (Relaciones Públicas) office on the ground floor of City Hall, but Qué Pasa managed to get a sneak peak. So, here is a schedule of some of the more popular activities that will take place this July.*

For art lovers, there is an exhibit of paintings and crafts at the Claustro de Capuchinas on the 6^th at 7 PM; and all day on the 7^th, the IV Outdoor Festival of Drawing and Painting will take place in Parque Central.

If you enjoy the ballet, don’t miss the performance which will be held in the Claustro de Capuchinas on the 7^th at 7 PM, presented under the auspices of CNPAG.

For those who like to break a sweat or cheer on competitors, there will be a family cycle ride on the 8^th departing from Parque Central at 9 AM, and Las Rosas Half Marathon will be departing and returning to Parque Central on the 15^th.

The XXIX Annual Book Fair will take place through the 12^th to the 29^th in Parque Central.

For music lovers, there will be a marimba concert on the 8^th; a night of jazz at Convento de Capuchinas on the 13^th at 8 PM; and the Sinfónica Nacional will perform on the 20^th at 8 PM in Iglesia de San Francisco. On the 21^st at 7 PM, the Festival of Choirs will take place in Parque Central, and there will be a baroque music concert at the Monumento de San José el Viejo on the 27^th at 8 PM.

Distinguished Antigüeños will be on honored by the city on the 24^th at 7 PM in the Salón Mayor at the Palacio del Ayuntamiento (City Hall).

Beauty pageant aficionados will be able to enjoy the Miss Antigua Beauty Contest. On the 7^th, contestants will take part in a fashion show, and on the 8^th there will be a special event where the young ladies will dress in outfits from the colonial period. On the 13^th, the main event will be held at the César Brañas Cultural Center. The newly crowned Miss Antigua will enjoy a party in her honor on the 20^th, and will also take part in the parade on the 25^th. **

On the 25^th, the main events will include a special mass at 8 AM held in honor of St. James at San José Catedral. A parade will step off at 9 AM from Gasolinera Morjan, going to the Estadio Municipal Pensativo, where there the Copa Santiago Interaldeas will be held at 12:30 PM. At 2 PM, a marimba concert and the Baile de Gigantes will take place in Parque Central.

For more information, visit Qué Pasa’s Facebook page for updates on events, as well as our online calendar at grupoquepasa.com for a complete list of activities.

The post The Celebrations of St. James’ Day appeared first on Que Pasa Magazine.

Check out Qué Pasa’s La Antigua Calendar on page 42 for Semana Santa events.

La Antigua is world-famous for its very elaborate Catholic religious celebrations during the 40 days of Cuaresma (Lent), leading up to the culmination of the season with Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Pascua (Easter) which commemorate the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The entire city participates in the event, and tens of thousands of visitors – both national and international – flock to La Antigua to witness the dramatic happenings.

Here is a basic guide to some of the sights, smells, and vocabulary of these captivating celebrations.

Velaciones (or Holy Vigils) ornament churches around La Antigua and the surrounding villages throughout Cuaresma (Lent). Each parish’s brotherhood, known as an hermandad, organizes its church’s velación, displaying their religious processional statue in front of or near the main altar. Usually a backdrop is made and a biblical or allegorical scene is created using the parish’s processional image of Jesus, other statues, and additional props. In recent years, many of the more elaborate velaciones have also employed soundtracks and timed lighting displays to add to the spectacle. At the foot of the display lies a vibrant handmade alfombra (carpet) made of brightly dyed sawdust, edged by a huerto (garden), an eye-catching display made of a beautiful combination of flowers, fruits, vegetables, bread, candles, and a large native seed pod with a unique odor that is traditionally evocative of Cuaresma – the corozo.

To find out how you can participate in a procession, see the interview “A Cucurucho for a Day” (from our April 2011 issue) on our website.

Each Sunday during Lent, and then during Holy Week itself, different local parishes sponsor procesiones (religious processions) through the streets of La Antigua. Each procession leaves its church and follows a pre-planned route before returning to the church several hours later.

Procesiones generally begin with men dressed as Roman Centurions leading the way (in a reference to Jesus’ crucifixion at the hands of the Romans), then come incense carriers and banner carriers. Behind them is the central attraction of the procession, the anda (a large wooden platform) bearing the parish’s religious processional sculpture of Jesus set amid lavish decoration. Many of these statues were made during the Spanish colonial period and can date back as far as the mid-17th century. The anda is carried on the shoulders of cucuruchos (carriers), who wear purple full-length tunics in the processions up until 3 PM on Viernes Santo (Good Friday), then black in the procesiones after that.

The largest of the andas can weigh as much as 7,000 pounds (3,150 kgs).

Each group of cucuruchos will carry the anda for a specific distance (a turno or turn) and then a new group will take over. The members of each turn are determined by the carriers’ shoulder height to ensure that the anda is level and balanced. This is important, as the largest of the andas can weigh as much as 7,000 pounds (3,150 kgs) and are carried by as many as 100 cucuruchos at a time.

In the past, the cucuruchos participated solely as a form of penance. Today there is some degree of social status involved, but the principal motivation is still a show of devotion by the carriers.

About a block behind the main anda, women carry a smaller anda with the figure of La Virgen María (The Virgin Mary). These female carriers are known as dolorosas or cargadoras. They also have turnos throughout the various hours of the procession. The women wear black skirts or dresses and also a mantilla (a head-covering, usually lace). Following behind the anda of the Virgin Mary are a funeral band and two additional, very small andas (usually carried by only 4 cucuruchos each) carrying the sculptures of San Juan (St. John) and María Magdalena (Mary Magdalene).

Elaborate and beautifully artistic alfombras (carpets) made of aserrín (sawdust) or viruta (wood shavings) dyed in bright colors, pine needles, flowers such as bougainvillea, chrysanthemums, carnations, and roses, and even fruits and vegetables are constructed during the hours prior to adorn the route of the procesiones. Sand or sawdust is generally used to level the cobblestone street, then the decorative elements are painstakingly arranged on top. The alfombras are made by residents along the route of the procession who invite friends and family to assist them in their construction.

As the procession passes over an alfombra, it is destroyed in the scuffle of feet, leaving nothing but a pile of debris which is quickly cleaned up by municipal cleaning crews that follow the procesión. The fact that the hours of labor and artistic talent that went into the making of the alfombra are wiped clean in a matter of minutes is a reminder that all beauty in the world is transient.

Photos:
Guillermo Gedé
Raúl Illescas

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After two successful and fun years, the La Antigua Masquerade Ball will take place again on Friday, February 17th from 6-11 PM at San Jose el Viejo. “When I first came to La Antigua and saw the ruins I thought, ‘Wow, they are so magical! What a wonderful place for classy and elegant cultural events!’” reminisced Gabi Altman. “So, I am so appreciative of Lyne Bissonnette for starting the ball in La Antigua and for graciously passing the organization of the event on to Mona Rose and me so we can continue this wonderful tradition.”

Originally, the masquerade ball in Venice gave the people an opportunity to celebrate and indulge on Mardi Gras before the start of Lent. The masquerade allowed Venetians to enjoy themselves without the social barriers that normally separated people. The first costumes were simple and based on characters from the Commedia dell’Arte, and, along with the masks, gave the revelers anonymity and the ability to mingle with people they normally would not have had the opportunity to meet. Not surprisingly, many couples met, fell in love,  and married shortly after the event. Not that we’ll be seeing an increase of matrimony in La Antigua, but one never knows; after all, wearing a costume and mask allows you to be a little more outgoing, a little more flirtatious. “What I love about this event is that you lose yourself in a different world: in a different time, a different space! You really forget where you are,” says Mona with a smile.

Over time, the costumes of the Venetian Ball have become increasingly extravagant. And since this is one of the most exciting parts of the event, guests are encouraged to fully participate. At the La Antigua Masquerade Ball, costumes have ranged from the spectacular and traditional to the mysterious and romantic. As a costume designer herself, Mona explains, “It’s not Halloween; it’s a Venetian style ball.” The dress code will be costumes fitting the theme, or elegant semi-formal to formal dress, and of course, a Venetian style mask is required to enter the Masquerade Ball! “You’re incognito! Nobody knows who you are. It’s very mysterious with everyone under a mask, and full of fantasy inspired by the nobles who used to dance in the royal courts,” adds Gabi.

If you’re wondering where you’ll be able to find a costume, you can contact Mona for beautiful custom-made masks. Another option, if you’re creatively inclined, is to visit the paca – an area at the back of the local market – where you can find a plethora of costume-making materials, from used bridesmaid’s gowns to yards of old curtains which can be transformed into an extravagant outfit. There will also be some costumes and masks on display at the ball, which will be available for purchase as a last-minute option.
While seeing everyone in their costumes and masks is certainly an element that contributes highly to the intrigue and entertainment of the evening, there will also be music and other entertainment. This year’s ball will, without doubt, prove to be a lively and exciting event, one that Gabi hopes will continue to grow with each coming year.

Don’t miss out on this amazing La Antigua tradition; get your tickets soon! Included in the ticket price (Q300 per person) will be a drink and hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, and music for dancing. Tickets can be purchased at Qué Pasa (Map J2) and Cargo Room (7832-2200), Joyería Del Ángel (7832-3189), Joe’s Grill (7934-6623), and Porta Hotel Antigua (7931-0600).

The proceeds from the event (the raffle and art auction) will go to World Help’s project Operation Baby Rescue.

The La Antigua Masquerade Ball will be held on Friday, February 17th from 6 PM to 11 PM at Las Ruinas de San Jose el Viejo (5a Avenida Sur and 8a Calle Poniente, next to Porta Hotel Antigua).
For more information: 5722-0113, 4185-4032 or antiguaball2012@yahoo.com.

To purchase a beautifully crafted, Venetian-style mask, visit www.monaroseartandmore.com or call 4185-4032.

Photos by Mona Rose and Victor González

The post La Antigua Masquerade Ball appeared first on Que Pasa Magazine.