Guatemala’s
Semana Santa

I ventured to Antigua, Guatemala to witness one of the most spectacular religious celebrations in the world: Semana Santa. Held during the week leading up to Easter, it blends deep Catholic devotion with vibrant Guatemalan traditions, massive parades, colorful art and community spirit like you’ve never seen.

Young boy peers from behind a white hood with purple band, part of a group of people dressed in purple uniforms and white hoods, standing in front of a decorated wall with hanging wooden objects.
A procession with people dressed in colorful costumes carrying a religious float during a festival at sunset in a town square.
A group of women with embroidered white lace head coverings sitting against a carved wooden wall.
A woman holding a purple and gold parasol at a parade, with people in purple clothing in the background.
Colorful street in a historic city with a large illuminated clock tower in the background and a mountain behind it during dusk.
People participating in a religious procession or ceremony, many dressed in purple and white, with some women wearing mantillas, and holding lanterns or incense holders, on a cobblestone street.
A person dressed in a hooded maroon robe with a small opening over the eye, holding a staff during a procession or festival, surrounded by other individuals, some wearing purple head coverings.
A group of people dressed in purple robes and blue hats, standing in a line inside a setting with ornate architectural details and warm lighting.
A woman holding a lit paper lantern at night during a large outdoor gathering, with a brightly lit, colorful building in the background.
A religious procession with people carrying a large ornate float on their shoulders. Participants are dressed in traditional and ceremonial clothing, including white and purple garments. Some women wear lace veils, and others are dressed in black and
A religious procession during dusk with a float depicting Jesus Christ carrying a cross, surrounded by flowers and statues, in front of a crowd of people on a street illuminated by street lamps.
A young person in a red and gold cape holding a lantern during a nighttime parade or procession, with a crowd of people in colorful costumes in the background.
People dressed in black clothing and hooded garments participating in a solemn outdoor procession or ceremony, carrying a tray with religious or cultural figurines and decorative objects, with a misty background and a mountain visible in the distance
A religious procession with a statue of Jesus carrying a cross, dressed in a red robe, carried on a platform decorated with flowers. People in white hats are watching the procession, and a mountain with trees is visible in the background during sunse
Man arranging yellow flowers on a decorative design for a cultural or religious event.
A woman holding a young child, both dressed in black hooded clothing, at a crowded outdoor gathering with trees and a building in the background.
People wearing black clothing and head coverings are standing close together in a somber scene, with a woman in headscarf sitting behind a dark wooden structure adorned with flowers and a Latin inscription.
Sunset behind a large tree and colonial-style buildings with arched windows and decorative balustrades.
Historic yellow building with arches and white columns, viewed from under a wooden structure, with cobblestone street, bikers and pedestrians, in the early morning with sunlight
A group of women dressed in black with lace veils are walking in a religious procession, carrying a large wooden platform with carved details. The platform has decorative greens, orchids, and a rock arrangement on top.
People participating in a procession, carrying a wooden casket at a religious or cultural event. The scene is outdoors on a cobblestone street with floral decorations.
A peach-colored building with wooden doors and a small balcony with purple and white drapes hanging from the railing. The building has a tiled roof and a sign with the number 30. Two blurred people are walking in front of the building.
A street vendor in a blue shirt and white hat operating a yellow mobile food cart on a cobblestone sidewalk in front of a white church with a large wooden door, flags, and a statue in a niche.