As you may have noticed Paraguay is a deeply religious nation. Most of the country is Catholic and as a result Semana Santa is one of the most important weeks of the year. To be here during Semana Santa is to see Paraguay at it’s most traditional. Asunción and other cities empty into the countryside where people can partake in old Semana Santa traditions that survive to this day. If you have family connections in the campo now is the time to visit them. Families get together for a week full of religious fervor and drama, and prepare and consume typical Paraguayan dishes.
For starters here are the basic things you need to know about Semana Santa in Paraguay. If you are familiar with Catholicism then perhaps most of this is the same as elsewhere but there are some Paraguayan twists.
Dates: April 5th to April 12th
Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday): traditional mass and blessing of palm fronds.
Early in the week, Monday or Tuesday: Chipa kandoi is prepared (in the countryside mostly)
Miércoles Santo (Wed): Enough chipa for the entire weekend is prepared. All of Paraguay smells like chipa!
Jueves Santo (Thurs): A large family lunch is prepared and served commemorating the Last Supper. During mass the rite of washing the feet is celebrated.
Viernes Santo (Fri): The Via Crusis procession occurs in which the 14 stations of the cross are visited.
Sábado de Gloria (Sat): Misa de Gloria and later the burning of an effigy of Judas.
Domingo de Pascua (Easter Sunday): The traditional Easter Vigil is held. As meat can once again be consumed families enjoy an asado together.
Though obviously we have Holy Week in the US in Paraguay Holy Week is celebrated with such nationwide fervor that in some more closely resembles our celebration of Thanksgiving in the US. Thursday and Friday are national holidays and the country grind to a halt a la Thanksgiving Day. Businesses will be shut down and most buses will not run on either day so plan accordingly. Thirty years back radio stations did not even broadcast then. Family-togetherness is a key aspect of Semana Santa. If you have relatives or special friends Semana Santa is the time to visit them.
In the next series of posts I’ll discuss tourism options, typical foods and religious traditions. Let me know if you have any Semana Santa questions or comments!
Martes: Chipa kandoi se prepara en algunos sitios del campo.
Miércoles Santo: Se prepara suficiente chipa para el resto de la semana. ¡Todo Paraguay huele a chipa!
Jueves Santo: Se prepara un gran almuerzo familiar en conmemoración a la Última Cena. A la noche se celebra la Santa Misa recordando la Última Cena y se hace el Lavado de los Pies.
Viernes Santo: Se hace la procesión de la Via Crucis visitando los 14 estaciones de la cruz.
Sábado de Gloria: Misa de Gloria y luego se le quema una efigie de Judas.
Domingo de Pascua: Misa de Domingo de Pascua. Luego como ya se puede volver a comer carne la familia se reune para disfrutar de un asado.
Aunque obviamente tenemos Semana Santa en EEUU, en Paraguay la importancia del feriado y el nivel de participación nacional hace que se asemeje más al feriado dedicado a Acción de Gracias de EEUU (Thanksgiving). El jueves y viernes son feriados nacionales y Asunción prácticamente de vacía hacia el interior del país. Los negocios estarán cerrados y la mayoría de colectivos no estarán operando en horarios normales asique hay que formalizar planes de viaje con anticipación. Treinta años atrás hasta las estaciones de radio paraban de emitir. La unión familiar es un aspecto clave de Semana Santa. Si tienes parientes o amigos especiales Semana Santa es un buen momento para compartir con ellos.
