EASTER IN PERU

The betrayer's testament

Although the mood of Semana Santa in Arequipa has become less devotional, painful and funeral since the city is getting bigger and bigger, the time around Easter still is a celebration of believers. Most people process in mourning, men cap in hand and women meekly cloaked.

On midday of Good Friday they celebrate the Sermon of Three Hours. There the priests hand down the words of the Holy Scripture, which antecede the Holy Sepulture. When Christ Yacante, laid down to rest in a coffin of glass, leaves the the church Santo Domingo, everybody is there, the poor and the rich, the old and the young. Thousands of people together process more than three hours, accompanied by the bands` funeral marches, until the Virgen de Dolores passes by, undersized and tiny behind five enormous green candles, almost lost in a see of yellow blinking lights.

At the holy hour of resurrection, which is celebrated on Holy Saturday at midnight, the believers sing out a devout Haleluja, that soon shades off into prayer and finally fades to a happy singing. Later, people burn down a doll stuffed with loud exploding fireworks. It is Judas, the betrayer, who burns down to ashes, before the cabaret artists of the town read out his "testament", making fun of the politicians of the city.

Our recommendation for Semana Santa in Arequipa:
HOTEL SONESTA POSADA DEL INCA AREQUIPA

And for all Peruvians and residents in Peru, we have got a special offer! For further information please click here or the offer.

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