Holy Week, also known as Semana Santa, takes place during Easter and is one of the highlights of the year across the culturally diverse countries of Central America and the Dominican Republic.
This region celebrates the Catholic tradition with popular colourful customs and festive traditions, including carpets of fresh flower petals, sawdust, and coloured powder, made in almost every Central American country, covering the streets with vibrant religious designs and motifs. Visitors can also enjoy traditional local dishes unique to this season, enriching the Semana Santa experience with exquisite culinary delights, as well as elaborate processions through the streets.
Streets Filled with Flowers and Aromas
During Holy Week in Central America, street processions are accompanied not only by sight but also by smell. The aromas of incense, corozo (a palm seed known as vegetable ivory), copal (an aromatic resin) and myrrh stand out. Unique carpets are created in this region, using sand, sawdust, mineral powders and corozo to compose extraordinary designs. These flower carpets, deeply rooted in Central American traditions, are the most impressive in the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, where processions of great beauty take place, such as the procession of Nuestra Señora de la Merced and the procession of Jesus Nazareno in the nearby town of Santa Catalina de Bobadilla. It is worth noting that on 26 February 2023, Holy Week in Guatemala was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In Nicaragua, in the city of Granada, the world’s only aquatic Stations of the Cross takes place across the islets of Lake Cocibolca, the largest lake in Central America. Dozens of boats take part in this unique procession, passing in front of fourteen selected islet jetties.
In the Indigenous community of Subtiaba, in the city of León, Nicaragua, the tradition comes to life early in the morning when people flock to the “Calles de las Alfombras” to watch local artists create more than forty carpets of flowers, sand and coloured sawdust which pave the way for the “Santo Entierro” procession. These artistic expressions extend across Central America to Comayagua, Honduras, Sonsonate in El Salvador in Sonsonate, and the Benque Viejo del Carmen village in Belize.
In El Salvador, a tradition steeped in history and faith has been celebrated every Easter Monday for over a century with thousands of people coming each year to watch the traditional performance of Los Talcigüines. The characters – dressed completely in red – walk through the streets of Texistepeque in Santa Ana dancing and entertaining visitors.
Panama City, meanwhile, commemorates the feast of Corpus Christi, which was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2021. This celebration is a melting pot of popular traditions and culture through theatrical performances, music, and dances in which participants hide behind masks and wear colourful costumes. The procession is the high point of the festivities when people dance and parade through the streets in a show of collective faith and joy.
La Trinidad, a community deeply cherished by Panamanians, becomes a hub of unity during these celebrations. The revered Granadillo tree, believed to own healing attributes, draws hundreds of people to share in the ritual of gathering flowers and lighting candles.
Saddle Up in Belize For Easter Sporting Events
Sport takes centre stage in Belize’s Easter festivities with an iconic cross-country cycling competition that dates back to 1928 and takes place every Holy Saturday. This demanding course, open to amateurs, covers more than 230 kilometres round trip from Belize City to San Ignacio. Meanwhile, the Castleton Derby horse race, held in the village of Burrell Boom, is reserved exclusively for professional jockeys and attracts thousands of spectators each year.
Easter Gastronomy Filled with Culinary Traditions
The Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat during Easter has given rise to a rich and varied gastronomy dominated by fish, seafood and vegetable dishes. What makes these dishes unique are the seasonal fruits that ripen during this time, such as currants, tamarind, papaya, coconut, jocotes and mango. These fruits are the main ingredients in elaborating delicious desserts, syrups and jams, adding a distinct flavour to the Easter table.
A characteristic Easter dessert in all Central American countries is the famous torrejas. This dish, made with bread, toasted rice or wheat and then ground, mixed with panela (a sweet derived from sugar cane juice), milk and eggs, is not just a dessert. It’s a symbol of our shared heritage and a testament to our culinary traditions. It’s commonly served with a glass of exotic chelate, a drink made with toasted corn, cocoa, chilli, and optionally with anise, ginger and cinnamon, further enhancing the cultural experience.
In the Dominican Republic, during Holy Week, many typical dishes are prepared to commemorate these dates. One of the most popular is the Habichuelas con dulce. This dish, made with beans, milk, coconut, cinnamon and other ingredients, is a labour of love. It’s slow-cooked to perfection, allowing the flavours to meld together. It’s accompanied by other traditional dishes such as cod with sweet potatoes, rice with coconut and various fish preparations, creating a feast that is as visually appealing as it is delicious.
