Holly Week, according to the tradition of the Catholic Church, begins on Palm Sunday when Jesus enters Jerusalem and is received with palm leaves. The following are the dates based on the Gregorian calendar for 2018 Easter Week.

Friday 30th (known as VIERNES SANTO) is perhaps the most celebrated day of all. If you are in town, is the day you dont want to miss. This agenda has been confirmed, however exact times may vary from time to time.

23 March Friday

  • (03:00) – Viacrusis from San Francisco to El Calvario (men).
  • (15:00) – Children’s procession – Cathedral.
  • (19:00) – Procession of the Virgin – Jocotenango
  • (12:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – San Cristobal el Bajo
  • (12:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – La Merced 
  • (12:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – Santa Ana 
  • (12:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – El Calvario 

 

24 March  Saturday (Sabado de Ramos)

  • (05:00) – Viacrusis from San Francisco to El Calvario (women).
  • (12:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – San Felipe de Jesus 

 

25 March  Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)

  • (06:30) – Procession of palms – Jocotenango
  • (08:00) – Procession of palms – Santa Ana
  • (08:00) – Procession of palms – Escuela de Cristo
  • (08:00) – Procession of palms – La Merced
  • (08:30) – Procession of palms – San Felipe de Jesus
  • (11:00) – Procession La Merced (main procession of the day)

 

26 March – Monday (Santo)

  • (6:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – La Merced 
  • (16:00) – Procession Santa Ines

 

27 March – Tuesday (Santo)

  • (6:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – San Francisco 
  • (18:00) – Procession (silent) from El Calvario

 

28 March – Wednesday (Santo)

  • (6:00 – 23:00) Velacion (Candle light prayer / vigil) – Escuela de Cristo
  • (14:00)  Children’s procession – La Merced
  • (15:00)  Procession – San Felipe de Jesus

 

29 March – Thursday (Jueves Santo)

  • (11:00) – Procession – San Cristobal El Bajo.
  • (13:00) – Procession – San Francisco.
  • (15:00 – 17:00) – “Ceremonia del Lavatorio” – washing of the feet (of the Jesus figure) – Escuela de Cristo, Cathedral, La Merced.

 

30 March – Friday (Viernes Santo)

  • (00:00) – Pronouncement of the sentence against Jesus – La Merced
  • (03:00) – Parade of Roman soldiers riding on horses and walking on Antigua streets, (act of looking for Jesus and calling out counts against him).
  • (04:00) – Procession from La Merced (dressed in traditional purple robes). *** biggest / most elaborate of all processions
  • (12:00 – 16:00) – Crucifixion ceremony at Escuela de Cristo.
  • (12:00 – 16:00) – Crucifixion ceremony at the Cathedral.
  • (15:00) – Procession from the Cathedral (dressed in black / mourning robes).
  • (15:00) – Procession from the San Felipe de Jesus (dressed in black / mourning robes).
  • (16:00) – Procession from the Escuela de Cristo (dressed in black / mourning robes).

 

31 March – Saturday (Sabado de Gloria)

  • 15:00 – Procession from San Felipe de Jesus (only of the Virgin – by women – as Jesus has died).
  • 16:00 – Procession from Escuela de Cristo (only of the Virgin – by women – as Jesus has died).
  • 20:00 – 23:00 – Special Ceremony / blessings in many churches.

01 April – Sunday (Domingo de Resurreccion) (Easter Sunday)

  • Morning Church services celebrating the resurrection.
  • 13:00 – Procession – San Pedro Apostal (Hermano Pedro)