~ My life as a nurse in Honduras ~: Semana Santa (part 2 of 2)

Mary, Jenny, and Me

March 27th - Wednesday
Katie and I took a bus towards Comayagua and were dropped off in the dark outside Palmerola U.S. Military base because the bus did not go directly into the city. We arrived around 9pm and thankfully a taxi was nearby to drive us to our hotel where we met up with Jenny, Mary, and the others. People have told me repeatedly to be careful when traveling by taxi, especially as a gringo and a female. In Roatán, there are certain taxi car numbers that you know not to take. It's too bad that a few taxi drivers have given the others a bad name because I've met some very nice drivers, especially in Comayagua. The taxi drivers during Semana Santa were all very kind. They made sure we knew all the events going on in town. My favorite taxi driver was listening to Catholic mass on the radio. Awesome!

The processions started following Holy Thursday mass and continued through Easter Sunday. Generally, in a procession, there is a giant heavy platform which is elaborately decorated by scenes of Jesus’s Passion and Resurrection. It is carried by fifty people, wearing heavy cloaks with tall peaked hoods. Their clothing comes from flagellants in Spain who would wear hoods as a form of punishment or penance. Flagellants were extremists during the 13^th and 14^th century who participated in physical forms of mortification such as whipping. The reason for participating in these processions today is indeed an act of penance, but in a non-violent way and completely voluntary. People sign up to carry a platform as a sign of penance and by wearing hoods and draped robes, they are provided anonymity.

Shortly after the evening procession started on Holy Thursday, local Hondurans began a long night of constructing the most beautiful alfombras (carpets) you could ever imagine out of colored sawdust, beans, rice, and other materials. The carpets were found all around the central plaza area: in every street and alley way. People worked tirelessly from 11pm that evening until 10am the next morning for the Good Friday procession. We came early the next morning to walk around and admire the colorful carpets. There were thousands of people who came to look at the carpets and watch the procession. Stations of the Cross were said in Spanish and English, as the platform processed over the carpets in town dispersing the sawdust.

On Saturday, we attended Easter Vigil mass with eight religious brothers at the Franciscan Friary. It was a BEAUTIFUL liturgy and one that I will always remember. The mass began outside in silence underneath a vast amount of stars with mountains in the background. The celebrating priest lit the Easter candle from a bonfire and passed that same flame to each of our candles. We moved into the small chapel and began listening to readings from the Old Testament, followed by beautifully sung Psalms. The friars invited about twenty guests for mass and a reception afterwards. It was a great night!

We spent most of Easter Sunday drinking awesome frozen lemonadas, journaling, and reading in the central plaza area of Comayagua. The Cathedral also had an outdoor mass where hundreds of men, women and children gathered to celebrate our Risen Lord. It was a beautiful and very memorable Semana Santa! I am blessed to have been a part of these long standing traditions in Comayagua and to have shared these experiences with my sister and good friends.