Jester wrote:
A little off topic but I'd like to be there during a religious holiday and see a procession. US Easter here just doesn't excite me esp. after seeing a procession in Sevilla, Spain. Neat!
Lot of activities in San Jose for Semana Santa. This schedule was in AM Costa Rica a few weeks ago.
Quote:
Municipality joins with church for Semana Santa
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
For the third year in a row, the Municipalidad de San José is working with the Catholic Church to observe Semana Santa.
Although the week that precedes Easter is steeped in religion, there is theater, too. The municipality said that well-known theater personality Luis Carlos Vázquez will be working with some 50 persons to provide the historic backdrop for the week. The individuals will play Romans, apostles and other biblical personages during the week of processions.
The first such procession is Sunday, April 5. This is Palm Sunday, which commemorates the arrival of Jesus Christ to a hero's welcome in the City of Jerusalem. For the faithful, the day begins with a ceremony at the newly restored Nuestra Señora de la Merced church on Avenida 2.
For tourists, this and other Semana Santa events are highly photogenic.
The Palm Sunday procession features a construction on the route that simulates the gates of the biblical city. Those who attended the blessing of the palms at the La Merced church can walk to the Catedral Metropolitana for a 10:30 Mass. If past years are any clue, the procession will feature a Christ-like person on a donkey surrounded with biblical figures and, of course, palm fronds.
There is one difference this year. Church officials, in league with the municipality, will be taking advantage of the new pedestrian boulevard on Avenida 4. The procession Palm Sunday and others will take place here at times to avoid traffic congestion.
However, Avenida 2 will be in use Monday, April 6, starting at 7 p.m. for the Stations of the Cross, led by the Catholic hierarchy, including Archbishop Hugo Barrantes. The next day, Tuesday, April 7, there is a Semana Santa concert at the cathedral at 6 p.m.
Wednesday another procession, titled "Christ tied to the column," will commemorate the physical punishment the gospels say that Jesus Christ endured at the hands of the Romans the night of his capture and the day before his death. This procession will go west on Avenida 2 to the main offices of Banco de Costa Rica and then south to Avenida 4 where participants will return to the cathedral.
Thursday at 5:30 p.m. the so-called Procession of Silence leaves the cathedral going north to Avenida Central and then west on the pedestrian boulevard to the former Radio Monumental intersection, then south to Avenida 4 and the return to the cathedral. This procession is followed by a Mass commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
Friday is a full day of events. An 8:30 a.m. prayer session in the cathedral is followed by a 9:15 a.m. theatrical event commemorating the appearance of Christ before Pontius Pilot, complete with Romans and citizens of Jerusalem calling for his crucifixion. This is in an adjacent park. At 9:30 a.m. the trial of Jesus moves to the Nuestra Señora del Carmen church for the reading of the death sentence and order of execution.
From that church begins the procession with a figure of Christ carrying the cross to the execution on the hill of Calvary.
The marchers leave the church on Avenida 3 to the west, and the theatrics continue with an encounter with Mary Magdalin, Veronica and her veil and a series of other biblical figures. The procession reaches Parque Central via Avenida 4 for the mock crucifixion.
The processions are not yet over for Friday, which happens to be a legal holiday. A 3 p.m. service in the cathedral is followed by the burial procession of Christ with the assistance of a whole list of characters, including statues joining the march via processions from other churches and the 60 members of the Banda del Cuerpo de Bomberos de San José. The procession goes from the cathedral north to Avenida 1, then west to Calle 4 and then south to the Banco de Costa Rica and east to the cathedral via Avenida 2.
This procession includes a casket with a life-size status of Christ, the Banda Nacional de San José, Romans, biblical characters and delegations from several lay organizations.
Saturday at 4 p.m. a procession begins at the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad church on Calle 9 to Avenida 2 to the cathedral. Participants carry the image of the Virgin.
The final procession, one of joy at the resurrection of Jesus, takes place from the La Dolorosa church on Calle Central to the cathedral at 10 a.m. Easter Sunday. This is followed by a Mass of Resurrection there at 10:30 a.m.
If tourists have not had their fill of processions and religious activity, there are similar events all over the country.
The municipality said that its alliance with the church was a way of reinforcing a new generation with their identity and spirituality. all of the events will be in the presence of dozens of police officers for security, the municipality said.
_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine
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