Semana Santa, March - April

A weeklong religious celebration called Holy Week that is based in the Catholic tradition. Palm Sunday brings the blessing of palm branches in churches throughout Mexico. On Maundy Thursday and Good Friday there are passion plays that tell the story of Christ’s crucifixion. Saturday brings the destruction of Judas and the Mass of Glory. Sunday is for church ceremonies and celebrations honoring Christ’s rising from the tomb. Holy Week celebrations vary widely from village to town. Taxco de Alarcón carries the penitent tradition from Sevilla, Spain. Penitentes flagellate themselves, wear horsehair cummerbunds, and carry large, heavy bundles of thorns as varying forms of penance throughout the celebration. These slides document processions, costumes, pageantry of the Passion Play, offerings, elaborate ephemera, and other traditions associated with this festival as celebrated in these various towns and villages.

These slides are housed in LSF Container H, Container I, Container J, Container K, and Container L.

A descriptive narrative of these slides is found on audiocassettes #4 side B, #5 side A and B, and #6 side A., which are housed in LSF Container RR.