For the first time in two years, Benque Viejo Town in western Belize came alive as residents flooded the street to carry out their traditional Good Friday celebrations through the reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, in commemoration of La Semana Santa (Holy Week.)

The week-long religious activities, which are marked by church and prayer services, fasting, religious procession and the live passion play of local actors dramatizing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ got underway before the crack of dawn as local artists, residents, and even visitors came together to pool their creative skills to create intricately designed, and colorful sawdust tapestries that are known as ”Alfombras de Acerin.”

The attractive sawdust carpets are not only used as a medium to demonstrate religious and contemporary messages to show gratitude and blessing received through the year but are also used to decorate selective streets where the Holy burial procession will pass through the town.

The preparation of these elaborate pieces which are considered to be among the highlights of the religious activities is considered to be a tedious process that starts months in advance ahead of the actual presentations. For weeks residents and volunteers come together to sift the sawdust which is then dyed, cured, and bagged for distribution among the various teams who would meet several months prior to plan their designs and get started on the stencils of choice. Designs and the actual layout of the sawdust tapestries sometimes run up to ten hours.

The second highlight of the day is the reenactment of the passion of christ during which locals dramatize the 14 stations of the Cross, starting with Jesus being condemned to death, his crucifixion, and his body being laid to rest.

The third portion of events is the Holy burial procession which is led by three floats one of them known as the anda float which is physically carried by 40 men, wearing special vestments. Inside the anda the life-sized statue of Jesus is laid out in a glass coffin and paraded through the streets of Benque, and on top of the colorful sawdust tapestries. The somber procession, which includes the young and the old is brought up by the Benque Viejo Marching Band.

Nalleli Yacab, coordinator of the Benque House of Culture commented, ”Well the community is so grateful that we are alive and that we are able to carry on our faith, traditions, and culture within these festivities on Good Friday. We are privileged to be alive after the pandemic so that we can carry on this cultural tradition, so coming back this year we are very emotional to be living once more through this momentous occasion after the pandemic. We give thanks.”

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