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When we say Easter, you think what?
Probably chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs, hot cross buns and a deliciously long, long weekend.
However, to many people around the world, it is the holiday’s religious significance that really sets it apart.
In fact, it is considered the most important celebration on the Christian calendar, as it commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the more moderate Christians may mark the day by going to church with their families on Friday as well as Sunday, there are certain religious communities that pull out all the stops.
We check out a few of the major masses and most passionate passion plays/pilgrimages that take place around the world.
Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) procession, Guatemala City
In most Roman Catholic communities, the entire week leading up to Easter weekend is considered holy (hence the name Holy Week) and filled with days of commemoration. In Guatemala City, Good Friday is characterized by the Holy Burial procession. A statue of Christ’s body prepared for burial is paraded through the streets on a float carried by mourners in black. (Johan Ordonez/AFP)
Palm Sunday Mass, St Peter’s Square, The Vatican
Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. It is considered the start of Holy Week and marked by the Pope delivering a special Mass on St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. (Andreas Solaro / AFP)
Hooded penitents in Spain
During Holy Week, cities around Spain are overrun with passion processions and penitents. These penitents identify themselves with a variety of Catholic brotherhoods and fraternities and are characterized by their rather bizarre dress – long robes with hoods covering their heads and faces. (Pabkov / Shutterstock.com)
Passion play, Alcorisa, Spain
On Good Friday every year, villagers from Alcorisa in Spain come together and perform the ‘Drama of the Cross.’ It culminates in the crucifixion scene that takes place on a hill outside of town nicknamed Calvario. (Bykofoto / Shutterstock.com)
Good Friday passion procession, Jerusalem
Unsurprisingly, Jerusalem sees a huge influx of Christians from all over the world over the Easter period, as they commemorate the lead-up to and crucifixion of Christ. While some groups merely follow the route to Cavalry, others reenact events to minute detail. (Gregory Gerber / Shutterstock.com)
Senákulo, Philippines
In predominantly Catholic Philippines, companies and community groups perform their various versions of the Senákulo (passion plays) during Semana Santa (Holy Week), using decades or even centuries-old scripts derived from the Bible and folk tradition that were later set down in poetic or prosaic form. Some of the plays are ultra-realistic, with performers going so far as driving actual nails through the Christ-actor’s hands. (Tony Magdaraog / Shutterstock.com)
Iztapalapa, eastern Mexico City
The Passion Play of Iztapalapa has its origin in an outbreak of cholera in 1833, which left many dead and many children orphaned. A procession was performed to an image of Christ called the “Señor de la Cuevita” (Lord of the Little Cave) to end the epidemic. When it subsided, it was considered a miracle and various cults to this Christ figure appeared. (tipograffias / Shutterstock.com)
Probably chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs, hot cross buns and a deliciously long, long weekend.
However, to many people around the world, it is the holiday’s religious significance that really sets it apart.
In fact, it is considered the most important celebration on the Christian calendar, as it commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the more moderate Christians may mark the day by going to church with their families on Friday as well as Sunday, there are certain religious communities that pull out all the stops.
We check out a few of the major masses and most passionate passion plays/pilgrimages that take place around the world.
Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) procession, Guatemala City
In most Roman Catholic communities, the entire week leading up to Easter weekend is considered holy (hence the name Holy Week) and filled with days of commemoration. In Guatemala City, Good Friday is characterized by the Holy Burial procession. A statue of Christ’s body prepared for burial is paraded through the streets on a float carried by mourners in black. (Johan Ordonez/AFP)
Palm Sunday Mass, St Peter’s Square, The Vatican
Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. It is considered the start of Holy Week and marked by the Pope delivering a special Mass on St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. (Andreas Solaro / AFP)
Hooded penitents in Spain
During Holy Week, cities around Spain are overrun with passion processions and penitents. These penitents identify themselves with a variety of Catholic brotherhoods and fraternities and are characterized by their rather bizarre dress – long robes with hoods covering their heads and faces. (Pabkov / Shutterstock.com)
Passion play, Alcorisa, Spain
On Good Friday every year, villagers from Alcorisa in Spain come together and perform the ‘Drama of the Cross.’ It culminates in the crucifixion scene that takes place on a hill outside of town nicknamed Calvario. (Bykofoto / Shutterstock.com)
Good Friday passion procession, Jerusalem
Unsurprisingly, Jerusalem sees a huge influx of Christians from all over the world over the Easter period, as they commemorate the lead-up to and crucifixion of Christ. While some groups merely follow the route to Cavalry, others reenact events to minute detail. (Gregory Gerber / Shutterstock.com)
Senákulo, Philippines
In predominantly Catholic Philippines, companies and community groups perform their various versions of the Senákulo (passion plays) during Semana Santa (Holy Week), using decades or even centuries-old scripts derived from the Bible and folk tradition that were later set down in poetic or prosaic form. Some of the plays are ultra-realistic, with performers going so far as driving actual nails through the Christ-actor’s hands. (Tony Magdaraog / Shutterstock.com)
Iztapalapa, eastern Mexico City
The Passion Play of Iztapalapa has its origin in an outbreak of cholera in 1833, which left many dead and many children orphaned. A procession was performed to an image of Christ called the “Señor de la Cuevita” (Lord of the Little Cave) to end the epidemic. When it subsided, it was considered a miracle and various cults to this Christ figure appeared. (tipograffias / Shutterstock.com)
