CV NEWS FEED // The Archdiocese of Los Angeles plans to hold a unique Lenten procession incorporating centuries-old traditions from Guatemala on March 10.
According to an emailed press release from the archdiocese, St Thomas the Apostle Church and the Cristo Rey Ministry at the parish will host a Lenten season procession featuring a replica of the Jesús Nazareno de Candelaria statue. The original statue has been venerated in Guatemala for the last several hundred years.
Processions on Holy Thursday in Guatemala also feature unique carpets, or “alfombras.” made of drawings with colored sawdust, which are placed on the streets for the processions to walk over. The archdiocese also plans to incorporate the “alfombras” into its procession.
The archdiocese added that “The procession will be led by the “Cucuruchos”: men and women wearing a purple dress called “túnica.”
“The term ‘cucurucho’ literally means cone, and in this case represents the cone-hat (also known as ‘capirote’) made of cloth to cover the head of the procession carrier during Holy Week,” the archdiocese continued.
The distinctive costumes are said to come from the first costumes of 9th century religious pilgrims in Europe that were brought to Guatemala by Spaniards in the 16th century.
The archdiocese also said that the Holy Week processions are popular in Oaxaca, Mexico as well, and the procession will feature sacred music performed by a local Oaxacan music band.
