Jesus Nazareno del Consuelo - Watching the Processions

We caught about an hour of the Catholic procession dedicated to the image of Jesus of Nazareth, Provider of Solace. The procession begins at 11 in the morning and weaves through the city centre until midnight.

There are four floats to the procession—one carried by men and three by women—two marching bands and different types of ceremonial officials. Guatemala has a long tradition of religious processions. People from all walks of life get involved in carrying the procession images, funding the flower, sawdust or leaf carpets, and following the procession throughout its journey through the city.

Antigua is perhaps best known for its religious processions but Guatemala city—a bustling and traffic-ridden metropolis of an estimated four million—hosts dozens of these marathon-length processions during Holy Week. This is amazing not only for the traffic chaos that they create, but also because of the obvious dedication that people still have to their Catholic practice.

I was particularly struck by the sheer will of the women carrying this image. Using supporting canes, wearing heels, dressed head-to-toe in black at nearly 30-degree weather, they manage to haul their heavy burden through the streets lined with vendors, grill stations, municipal clean-up crews and of course half-gringo babies.

Sam enjoyed sucking on his carrier and listening to the drums and large wind instruments. He seemed not to be phased by the crowds of people who with great regularity point at him saying: "Look at the baby!"