Introduced by the Spanish over 500 years ago, Catholicism is the dominant religion in South America, with around 90 percent of people being baptized catholics. For many South American countries Easter is the most important religious event in the calendar, and the Easter period is a week known in Spanish as Semana Santa (Holy Week). The form of celebration will vary slightly depending on exactly where you are, and the dates for the Semana Santa Easter period in 2007 will be April 1st - April 8th.
Ayacucho
If you are going to be travelling in South America during the Easter period it is certainly worth trying to find out where some of the more interesting celebrations are going to take place.
Ayacucho
If you are going to be travelling in South America during the Easter period it is certainly worth trying to find out where some of the more interesting celebrations are going to take place.
Easter | South American Religious Festivals
Some of the more impressive processions are in parts of Peru where grand portrayals of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ take place. Ayacucho and Arequipa and recommend as excellent places to see such events. In Ayacucho, in the central Andes regain, one of the highlights is the spectacular structure of a thousand lit candles that is carried through the streets on the evening of Holy Friday. The events of the week centre around grieving and prayer until the final Sunday when the resurrection is celebrated.
Other Religious Festivals - Carnival
The catholic religion is the foundation of most of the significant festivals in South America. Easter being the most prominent for many, however there are many others and for travellers heading to the region, you should have a look into seeing if any events will be on while you’re there. Carnival is most famously celebrated in Brazil, however it is also celebrated in various ways through the majority of South America.
The weeklong hedonistic experience of Rio Carnival and all other carnivals in South America is actually a celebration of the beginning of Lent. The word ‘carnival’ is said to have originated from the Spanish word for meat (carne) and is a contraction of a phrase meaning ‘farewell to meat’. This is in reference to the preparation for the fasting period of Lent, where all meat and animal products such as eggs, butter and milk are used up. So those more familiar with making a few pancakes in honour of this time, Rio and other parts of Brazil offer a lively alternation. Other significant places to celebrate carnival include Salvador, also in Brazil, and Barranquilla in Colombia.
The catholic religion is the foundation of most of the significant festivals in South America. Easter being the most prominent for many, however there are many others and for travellers heading to the region, you should have a look into seeing if any events will be on while you’re there. Carnival is most famously celebrated in Brazil, however it is also celebrated in various ways through the majority of South America.
The weeklong hedonistic experience of Rio Carnival and all other carnivals in South America is actually a celebration of the beginning of Lent. The word ‘carnival’ is said to have originated from the Spanish word for meat (carne) and is a contraction of a phrase meaning ‘farewell to meat’. This is in reference to the preparation for the fasting period of Lent, where all meat and animal products such as eggs, butter and milk are used up. So those more familiar with making a few pancakes in honour of this time, Rio and other parts of Brazil offer a lively alternation. Other significant places to celebrate carnival include Salvador, also in Brazil, and Barranquilla in Colombia.
Doce Platos
When I was in Peru for Easter, I spent it at a slightly lower profile celebration in the Apurimac region of the southern Andes region. The events were very similar to other parts of the country in regards to the celebrations and processions. I’m not a religious person, but thought the celebrations very interesting, and found it impressive that nearly everyone in the town came together for it.
When I was in Peru for Easter, I spent it at a slightly lower profile celebration in the Apurimac region of the southern Andes region. The events were very similar to other parts of the country in regards to the celebrations and processions. I’m not a religious person, but thought the celebrations very interesting, and found it impressive that nearly everyone in the town came together for it.
On the night of Holy Friday everyone in the town stayed out all night in an area around the church. to keep them going through the night there was stalls set up selling a range of food a drink. Local Chicha beer (a week beer made from corn) together with besitos (small sweets traditionally taken at Easter time) where the most popular offerings. There was a long procession with effigies of Christ on the Cross and the Virgin Mary carried through the streets. The overall mood was very somber and serious as this was the part of the week where Christ's death was portrayed. Then very early Saturday morning, after a long church service is completed, everyone went to light a small white candle in the church. This itself took several hours due to the amount of people queuing at the doors of the church. It seemed as though everyone in the town was thee to pay their respects. After the night’s events, I went to catch up on some sleep and was awoken around 1pm on the Saturday to join the family with which I was staying for a traditional Easter meal. Throughout most of Peru the Easter feast is known as Doce Platos, which translates as twelve dishes, and is a particularly filling meal made up of 12 separate courses, many of which seemed to be full sized portions. Around half way through the meal nearly everyone begins to struggle, most of the remaining dishes are picked at and left half eaten. With this begins the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, and the remaining celebrations take on a more joyful air. (Peru Photos)
In Oruro, Bolivia, carnival celebrations happen around the same time of year, but take on a slightly darker theme. The indigenous populations in the area blended the catholic teachings of the Spanish, with their own pagan rituals. The Diablada (devil dance) is particular kind of devil worship, owing it’s origins to the mining community who used to perform sacrifices to the devil to protect the miners, in the belief that Satan was their protector when underground. The events in Oruro involve this devil dance as well as other processions decorated with colourful costumes and mask. This event has also influenced another festival the other side of the Andes in Chile. This festival takes place in the village of La Tirana, inland near the Bolivian border in northern Chile, and again takes on a seemingly contradictory blend of the catholic religion with some indigenous devil worshipping, with lots of colourful masks and costumes.
Whilst Catholicism is the dominant religion in South America, people there seemed to be very tolerant of other religions and religious conflict is extremely rare. As a result of this many of the festivals you will witness are in celebration of more than one set of beliefs and whilst often rooted in Catholicism, can also include evidence of their own indigenous cultures and traditions. This makes for some fascinating celebrations and a large degree of regional variety. So make sure you seek out these festivals on your travels, and if the better known events like Rio Carnival are not your thing, venturing of the beaten track at these times, and you’ll likely find some equally intriguing event.
David Woods - 1st December 2006
Send This Article To A Friend
No part of this article may be republished without obtaining permission from My World South America (info@myworldsouthamerica.com)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |