The Unique Traditions Of Bolivia's Semana Santa

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a holiday with deep spiritual meaning in Bolivia, which is predominantly Catholic. The celebrations begin on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, when people braid crosses from palm leaves to be blessed at churches and later hung on doors as a sign of God's blessing. The week includes Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, known as the Triduum, and is marked by rituals, processions, and activities. Bolivians also cook and share 12 special meatless dishes, including soups, stews, and seafood.

Holy Week's food and customs

Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is a holiday with deep spiritual meaning in Bolivia, a predominantly Catholic country. The week preceding Easter and the final week of Lent is marked by rituals, processions, and activities across the country.

Holy Week Food Customs

Bolivians have a tradition of cooking and eating between seven to twelve special dishes during the most important days of Semana Santa. In keeping with the Lenten tradition, these dishes do not include meat but instead feature fish and seafood. Some of the delicious soups on the menu include Sopa de papa pica (potato soup), shrimp soup, escariote soup, bread soup, and kidney bean chilli. Vegetable dishes include Sajta de papalize, Ch’uma de lacayote, and Carbonada, a combination of potatoes and pumpkins.

Holy Week Activities and Customs

On Palm Sunday, people braid crosses from palm leaves and bring them to churches for blessing. Good Friday is a day of solemn processions mourning the crucifixion of Jesus, with devotees dressed in dramatic hooded robes carrying effigies of the suffering Christ. On Saturday, Bolivians build arches adorned with roses and intricate floral carpets for the processions celebrating Christ's resurrection. Church-goers don their finest attire, filling the air with the aroma of flowers.

The city of Sucre is particularly renowned for its Holy Week festivities, with thousands of believers carrying palm leaves in processions and priests performing the ritual of washing the feet of devotees in the Sucre Cathedral on Holy Thursday. La Paz is also a notable destination, with its Good Friday processions and floating effigies of Jesus and his mother.

For those seeking adventure, the Holy Week provides an opportunity to embark on a pilgrimage. Some opt for a shorter route, traversing about 12 blocks from one church to another, symbolising the pilgrimage of Jesus during his passion. Others undertake a more challenging journey, such as the 200 km trek or bike ride from La Paz City to Copacabana City, where they pay homage at the Sanctuary of the "Virgen de Copacabana".

For swimmers, the Tiquina Narrow Pass offers a unique challenge as they attempt to cross the highest lake in the world, the Titikaka Lake, with support from Navy and Police officers. Alternatively, travellers can explore the ancient trail "La Ruta del Inca" (The Inca Trail), a well-built road through the lush vegetation of the Yungas Jungle.

Holy Week in Bolivia is a time of festivity, reflection, and spiritual connection, offering a range of experiences for both locals and visitors alike.

Pilgrimage routes

Each city and neighbourhood in Bolivia has its own pilgrimage route during Holy Week, with routes spanning about 12 blocks from one church to another, symbolising the route Jesus took during his passion. Some pilgrims take on longer trips, such as the 200-kilometre journey from La Paz City to Copacabana City, where travellers trek or bike through the cold, rain, sun, and heat of the Bolivian High Plateau, considered one of the most challenging terrains due to its altitude, weather, and living conditions. The final destination of this pilgrimage is the Sanctuary of the "Virgen de Copacabana", one of Bolivia's most important religious sanctuaries.

For those seeking a less challenging experience, there is a route through the Yungas, where one can follow the ancient Inca Trail, "La Ruta del Inca". This route, built for commerce and communication during the Incan Empire, offers a unique landscape of lush vegetation and ancient construction methods. It is not too dangerous for those with some trekking experience and can be completed in three days.

For the true adventurer, there is The Choro, a four-day trek considered an expert-only route due to its danger. This route provides a longer option to visit the Yungas Jungle and is more difficult because of the trail's perils.

Another pilgrimage route is the Death Road, one of the most dangerous routes in the world, crossing through the mountains in the Yungas Jungle. This narrow path, built for trucks and public transportation, offers a thrilling experience for mountain bikers, attracting both experienced and intermediate riders. The trip spans 64 kilometres, arriving in the town of Coroico, where bikers often relax before returning to La Paz.

Adventure and relaxation

Bolivia's official religion is Catholicism, but the country now respects all religions and beliefs. Holy Week is still one of the most important holidays in the country, and it's a great time to visit Bolivia for adventure and relaxation.

Adventure

If you're an athlete, you could follow the pilgrimage route from La Paz City to Copacabana City. Pilgrims trek or bike the 200km to reach the Sanctuary of the Virgen de Copacabana, one of the country's most important religious sanctuaries. This route covers part of the Bolivian High Plateau, considered one of the most difficult terrains due to the altitude, weather and living conditions.

For swimmers, there's the Tiquina Narrow Pass, which is a crossing required to get to Copacabana. It's so extreme that Navy and Police officers provide swimmers with constant support.

If you're an experienced trekker, you could follow the ancient Inca Trail, "La Ruta del Inca", through the beautiful Yungas. This well-built road is completed in 3 days.

For the true adventurer, there's the Choro route, a 4-day trek through the Yungas Jungle that should only be accessed with an expert guide.

Relaxation

If you're looking for a more relaxed experience, there are resorts, hotels and hostels offering great service during Holy Week. You can enjoy events and parties by the pool, as well as buffets with lots of food and drinks.

You could also visit one of Bolivia's beautifully decorated churches, as almost all of them open their doors to the public on the Thursday before Easter Sunday.

The Good Friday parade in La Paz

La Paz is one of Bolivia's largest cities, with 95% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. The country is officially a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural place, respecting all religions and beliefs, but Catholicism remains the predominant faith. As such, Holy Week is one of the most important holidays in Bolivia.

The Good Friday parade is a highlight of the week, but the festivities begin on Palm Sunday, with churches at the centre of the celebrations. On this day, people braid crosses from palm leaves and bring them to churches for blessing. There are also processions, with thousands of believers carrying palm leaves from the Cathedral to Plaza 25 de Mayo and back to the Cathedral for a sermon.

On Holy Thursday, priests perform the ritual of washing the feet of believers in Sucre Cathedral, followed by The Mass of the Lord's Supper. On Holy Saturday, Bolivians build arches decorated with roses and floral carpets for the processions, celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Church-goers wear their best clothes, and the air is filled with the aroma of flowers.

Food is also an important part of the Holy Week celebrations, with a custom of eating between seven and twelve meat-free dishes, including seafood.

The Holy Sepulchre Procession in Sucre

The Holy Sepulchre Procession starts at 5 pm at the Temple of San Lázaro and makes its way to Plaza 25 de Mayo and back. It is one of several processions that take place in Sucre during Holy Week, with the festivities considered among the best in Bolivia.

On Palm Sunday, thousands of believers carry palm leaves in processions from the Cathedral to Plaza 25 de Mayo and back to the Cathedral for a sermon. A second procession starts at San Sebastian and ends at the San Francisco Basilica. On Holy Thursday, priests perform the ritual washing of the feet of believers in Sucre Cathedral, followed by the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

Holy Week is a deeply spiritual time in Bolivia, with the country's churches at the centre of celebrations. The week is marked by rituals, processions and activities, with each city and neighbourhood offering its own unique take on the traditions.

Food is also a key part of the celebrations, with Bolivians cooking up to 12 special dishes, all without meat, as is the tradition during Lent. Dishes include soups, such as potato soup, shrimp soup and kidney bean chilli, as well as vegetable treats like Sajta de papalize, Ch’uma de lacayote, and Carbonada, made of potatoes and pumpkins.

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