Good Friday

Not coming from a Catholic community at all, it was very interesting for me to participate in such Catholic events. It even seemed weirder to me than Christmas was. Mostly I think because the Catholic Church focuses more on Christ´s suffering and Crucifixion on Friday than his Glorious Triumph over Death and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. To do this they have what is called “Semana Santa” which literally translated means “Holy Week”. Each day of the week down in the Old Town of Quito they have events that lead up to Good Friday. They have churches open to go and worship, they have many different ceremonies, and they make a traditional food called Fanesca which is a soup that contains 12 of everything, 12 grains, 12 veggies…etc.etc. you get the picture. Then it is served with fish to represent Christ, while the 12 represents his 12 apostles.
Josh, Melanie, Owen, Sarah (Josh and Melanie´s friend), and I decided to go down to the Good Friday procession on Friday morning. Everything in the city of Quito was closed and the city was really eerily silent. There wasn´t a soul on the busses, and no cars on the roads. As I headed out I thought it was super weird, and I was a little nervous! However upon arriving in the Old Town, I quickly realized where everyone was! The few blocks that the procession would take place were sooooooo crammed with people it was impossible to maneuver.
Our first adventure started as we exited the Ecovia Bus station. There was a large group of people, surrounding a smaller group of people, and we couldn´t tell what was going on, but kept on walking up the hill towards the parade. Well a few minutes later the swarm of people starting running up the hill. It was very interesting and we kind of started to get a little freaked out by it, but still weren´t able to see the source of the panic. Well as Melanie tried to steer us all out of the way, and protect Owen police arrived on the scene and started to spray pepper spray, making it so that we were all coughing uncontrollably, and really starting to get freaked out. Well about that time, two women ran up the hill, one had what looked like a knife, while the other had a bloody face. The police took off after them, and we never really found out what else happened. Except for that the bloody face lady was seen a few more times that day selling gum again…
The procession it´s self was very interesting, it started out with what I call the “Purple People Eaters” but they really are called the “Cucaruchoos” (I really have no idea how to spell that) they are in purple representing repentance, and their loyalty to change their lives. As you can see from the pictures each purple is different, and this represents the gravity of their sin, and the amount of work they are willing to do to repent.
Also in the procession there were Christ figures. Who carried crosses up the hill. I guess the people who are selected to do this part are selected years in advance, and it´s a grand honor to be selected to carry the cross up the hill. Also of course there was Virgin Mary, and she was escorted in by “Veronica´s) who also looked like the purple people eaters but without the cone shaped caps. It was when Virgin Mary came in that the crowd started to cry, and many wept openly in seeing her. I kind of felt guilty for taking pictures, because for most, this is their religious Easter, and all they will do in celebration of this season. After the Virgin went by, then people from the sides started to join in, and then they all continued walking.
Over all it was VERY interesting.

Love,
Em