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Hispanic Mama

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Everything You Need to Know About Easter in Latin America

Easter in Latin America is a major holiday since it’s the region with the most Catholics in the world.

Although I am not a Catholic, I learned to appreciate the beauty and solemnity for the Holy Week festivities (Semana Santa) in Ecuador. It seemed to me like the whole country would shut down to renew their connection with their Catholic faith.

The festivities of Easter or Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Latin America starts on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos). During this week, there are religious observations that include prayer meetings, masses, processions and other rituals.

Since it’s a four-day holiday, touristic attractions and resorts would benefit greatly of Easter. It’s actually the last weekend of beach season in Ecuador so visiting the ocean is a VERY popular thing to do during Easter.

 

Easter in Latin America

 

Related Post: Fun Easter Resources For Your Bilingual Kids

Catholic Traditions During Holy Week

 

One of my favorite memories of Easter was the year when my friend from school, Tatiana invited me to join her family at the beach. Her parents were devout Catholics so I got to witness some of the religious traditions that celebrate the last days of Christ’s life.

First, we didn’t eat any red meat during Semana Santa. Old wive’s tales indicate that whoever eats meat would become a fish!  Regardless of that funny urban legend, it was pretty easy for me to join the meat fasting since I loved seafood!

Starting on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), we attended several masses throughout the week. The Palm Sunday mass is as important as the Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) mass. Although it was offered many times during the day, it got so crowded that it was difficult to find a seat.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pbro. MSc. Carlos Quiva García (@padrecarlosquiva)

 

The religious festivities would restart again on Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) with a mass, a Procession of the 12 Stations of the Cross, foot-washing ceremonies and with plays describing the Crucifixion and Resurrection. National television will also be broadcasting movies about Christ’s life and other biblical movies like The Ten Commandments.

One of the traditions for this day is to visit seven churches as a remembrance of the vigil the apostles kept in the garden while Jesus prayed. This was an important tradition for my friend’s family so I joined them the quest to visit seven churches throughout the day. Most of the churches were old so it was pretty amazing to learn about the colonial architecture.

 

Easter in Latin America

 

On Viernes Santo (Holy Friday) when it recalls the crucifixion, there are masses, prayer meetings and solemn processions where devout participants dress in costumes and carry large wooden crosses. Sábado de Gloria (Holy Saturday) is a preparation for Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) where it’s celebrated Christ’s conquer over death with masses.

 

Easter in Latin America

 

Related Post: 7 Christ-Centered Bilingual Books For Easter

Easter Traditions in Latin America

 

Burning of Judas

The burning of Judas is a popular Easter-ritual in Mexico and Venezuela where an effigy of Judas Iscariot is burned or exploded with fireworks. This tradition is interesting to me since in Ecuador we have a new year’s eve tradition of burning an effigy. 

 

A post shared by Ulises Pardi Valero (@oduseos) on Mar 29, 2016 at 6:41am PDT

 

Procession to Remember an Earthquake 

In Holy Week, there is a procession to remember the massive earthquake that hit Cusco, Peru in 1650 and destroyed the former Inca capital.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eva Ruiz (@evita1872)

 

Chocolate Eggs

Huevos de pascuas or chocolate eggs are part of the Easter celebrations in Argentina.

 

A post shared by Monica (@lapiba555) on Apr 20, 2014 at 8:54am PDT

Traditional Easter Food in Latin America

 

Fanesca

Fanesca is an Easter symbol from Ecuador, this high elaborated dish is made with fish and fresh grains that come from the Andean highlands of Ecuador. Learn how to make fanesca here.

A post shared by Linda -HispanicMama (@hispanic_mama) on Feb 23, 2017 at 1:34pm PST

 

Potaje de la Vigilia

This chickpea stew with cod is a popular Easter-dish in countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia. Learn how to make it here.

A post shared by @carolacarolae on Mar 28, 2015 at 6:17am PDT

 

Chipa

This bun made with cassava, eggs, milk and cheese is a traditional Easter dish in Paraguay. Find here a great recipe.

A post shared by ABC Digital (@abcdigital) on Apr 7, 2017 at 10:29am PDT

 

Rellenos de Pescado Seco 

These fish cakes are part of the Easter menu in El Salvador. Learn how to make them here.

A post shared by elifoodsv (@elifoodsv) on Mar 16, 2017 at 1:12pm PDT

 

Habichuelas con Dulce

This is a popular dish during Lent in Dominican Republic. Learn how to make it here.

A post shared by Yolanda Zarzuela (@yolandazarzuela) on Apr 8, 2017 at 1:46pm PDT

How Do You Celebrate Easter?

 

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You are here:
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Everything You Need to Know About Easter in Latin America
Title:
Everything You Need to Know About Easter in Latin America

Authors:
  • Hispanic Mama
Categories:
  • Bilingual Resources
Mentions:
easter, fanesca, Semana Santa

Keywords:
Easter in Latin America

Last Updated:
December 29, 2019

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April 9, 2017 4:39 am Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Bilingual Resources

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marcela says

    April 10, 2017 at 10:56 am

    I really like reading about other cultures and tradition. I love how you have put everything together in my country instead of palm leaf we have olive branch (small one). Food looks very very yummy *-*

  2. Pam Avoledo says

    April 10, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Great post! Wonderful pictures.

  3. Gracie Gill says

    April 10, 2017 at 11:18 pm

    This is very interesting. I am from the Philippines and we are now commemorating Semana Santa. Very similar to our tradition as well, except the burning of Judas. We were colonized by the Spaniards for more than 300 years, so I guess, that’s what made us similar in terms of tradition. Great post!

    • Hispanic Mama says

      April 11, 2017 at 2:43 pm

      Hi Gracie, I love how our cultures are so similar! Thanks for stopping by!

  4. Aunt Clara says

    April 27, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    It’s always interesting to read how other Latinos celebrate the same holidays, so much diversity!

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