Easter in Mexico, Semana Santa and Pascua: a Mexican holiday resource page
For Mexico, the Easter holidays are a combination of Semana Santa (Holy Week — Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday) and Pascua (Resurrection Sunday until the following Saturday).
For most Mexicans, this 2 week period is the time of year for holiday vacations (good time to not be on the highways — just stay put and enjoy the community of your choice during this holday season).
Holy Week celebrates the last days of the Christ's life. Easter is the celebration of the Christ's Resurrection. It is also the release from the sacrifices of Lent.
In many communities, the full Passion Play is enacted from the Last Supper, the Betrayal, the Judgement, the Procession of the 12 Stations of the Cross, the Crucifixion and, finally, the Resurrection. In some communities, flagellation and/or real crucifixion is included. The enactments are often wonderously staged, costumed and acted, with participants preparing for their roles for nearly the full year leading up to Semana Santa.
Picture Galleries
San Miguel de Allende Good Friday procession in the 1960s
Easter in Jaltemba Bay, Mexico: Semana Santa is a family affair
Christ's Passion - Ajijic, Jalisco 1999
Easter Week - San Miguel de Allende
The Passion of Christ - Ixtapalapa
Silver, Saints, and Sinners™: Semana Santa in Taxco, Mexico
Tears from the Crown of Thorns. Easter Passion Play in San Miguel de Allende
Articles
The Food of Semana Santa: A Seasonal Celebration of Popular Cuisine
Karen Hursh Graber
Easter in Jaltemba Bay, Mexico: Semana Santa is a family affair
Christina Stobbs
Good Friday in San Miguel de Allende
Carol Wheeler
The Passion of Christ - Ixtapalapa
John Neubauer
Silver, Saints, & Sinners™
Semana Santa in Taxco
Jim Allen and Jan McHargue
Semana Santa
San Miguel de Allende
Geri Anderson
Pascua/Semana Santa - Passion Play in San Miguel (Alan Cogan, Photos by Charlotte Bell)
Palm Sunday in Ajijic
Karen Blue
Pascua/Semana Santa
Easter Holy Week
in Ajijic, Mexico
Dale Hoyt Palfrey
Holy Week & Easter
Manuel España Ramos
Semana Santa y Pascua (Español)
Manuel España Ramos
Our Lady of the Sorrows
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores
Judy King
Semana Santa - Personal Views, 2002
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