2008-03. Procession of the Laying Christ of the Calvary

“The carpets, made out of sawdust, flowers or fruits, constitute one of the most important characteristics of the Guatemalan celebrations of Easter. These lengthy and extraordinary carpets, unique to Guatemalan culture, form part of the so-called popular ephemeral art and are intertwined with the collective memory of every Guatemalan. It is a clear example of the religious and cultural syncretism.” (2)

“Their origin comes from two sources: during Pre-Hispanic times, Spanish documentarians from the 16th century as well as written indigenous testimonies, recorded that local lords and priests would, on certain ceremonies, walk over carpets made from flowers, pine needles and feathers from precious birds such as quetzals, hummingbirds, and macaws… In addition, there is also the Spanish influence from the Canary Islands, in particular from Tererife and Gomera, where large carpets were created since remote times. A testimony from the 7th century reveals colorful dirt passageways with flowers and different types of sand.” (3)