Public Story
Holy Week in Santiago de Atitlan
Santiago Atitlan, across Lake Atitlan, has a truly spectacular and authentic Semana Santa celebration, which at times is a breathtaking show of faith and sacrifice. Its cultural traditions have their roots in pre-conquest times which have been evolving, blended with Catholicism, for centuries while remaining deeply indigenous. This split has brought conflict between Catholics and the indigenous worshipers of Maximon
at times on Good Friday when the venerated statue of Christ is taken down from his cross, and elaborately dressed and blessed with hair spray instead of holy water, and placed in a flower-decked coffin and, around mid-day, leaves the church, first to meet up with Maximon, then to begin the long procession all through the night.
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