Each
Month LocoGringo.com will feature different destinations, interesting places
to stay, cultural articles and things to do along the Caribbean coastline
of Mexico.
Playa
del Carmen, Mexico
This month’s spotlight is
on the Caribbean beach town of Playa del Carmen, located 56 kilometers
(1 hour) south of Cancun airport on the Riviera Maya. “Playa”, as
the locals call it, has a lot going on! Lots of sand, sun and surf
all day, plus scuba diving.
After dark, you can party all night if you want to. The beach is
awesome; and the restaurants,
bars and shopping are some
of the best you’ll find on the Riviera Maya. Playa is so happening
in fact, that LocoGringo.com is opening a new office there. Look
to us to bring you the freshest, most comprehensive information available
on this booming town and all the things that it offers. Tune-in to
the Playa page and watch it grow as we continue to add travelers’ info
and cool hotels in the future.
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Semana Santa, Mexico's Easter Celebration.
Semana Santa, Easter week
in Mexico. by: Jose Gamaliel
Mexico celebrates Easter
Week as “Semana Santa” or Holy week. This predominately Catholic celebration
begins at the end of March and continues into April. During these
seven weeks all Catholics are supposed to go to church in remembrance of
their savior, Jesus Christ.
Many of the local Maya who
live in Quintana Roo along the Riviera Maya actually come from the neighboring
state of Yucatan. They typically come in search of work and bring with
them their religious customs and costumes. For most of the people
Semana Santa begins with a big Mass on Ash Wednesday, during which time
at the end of the Mass, the Bishop blesses them by putting an ash across
their foreheads. Then they have to keep the lent, which means fasting
time, penitence, conversion, pray, and to live the baptism with faith.
The Ash Wednesday and each Friday during the lent, they should not eat
pork or beef, only chicken, fish, eggs and vegetables. Where people either
do not have fish or find it too expensive (very common during this these
period), like Yucatan’s tipical-autochthonous towns they eat Papadzules,
Brazo de reyna, pozole, Sikilpaak, pipian de ciruela, Chaya and eggs. All
this food is made based on Corn, seeds and vegetables easy to find in the
area or home cultivated.
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The 7th week called Major Week,
they have to keep the above rule. The Palm Sunday marks the beginning of
a major week, people do processions on some streets and palms blessing
at the church. Holy Friday there are processions organized by the main
church in town. They take the biggest cross representing the way Jesus
was threatened until his crucifixion. Saturday midnight there is a Mass
called “misa de gallo” or glory Saturday, where Jesus came back to God's
kingdom and then resurrection Sunday where Jesus came back from death.
Then the Sunday there are many parties like birthdays, baptism and other
kind of parties. In this way the Semana Santa ends.
In San Miguel de Allende,
Mexico they represent the crucifixion with real actors, fervent in their
beliefs and are not being paid. What it makes it different than others
is the deep emotions and sincerity of the actors. Centurions in full Roman
garment head the procession riding real horses along the square’s streets.
The Virgin Mary, Mary Magelene, Judas and John the Baptist stand on weight
platforms, carried by strong men. Blood drops from the real crown of thorns
on the brow of the real person portraying Jesus, he drags a heavy cross
behind him. This finishes when Jesus is crucified on the cross.
LocoGringo note: The
Easter is the biggest vacation holiday in Mexico. Almost everyone is travelling
during this time.
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