In contrast to the fairy tale that Easter has become in Anglo-Saxon cultures, where a Bunny hides colourful eggs for children to find, Holy Week in Latin America still maintains its traditional European roots.
In Latin cultures, it is not forgotten that Easter and the week leading up to the holiday represents the last days of Jesus' life. It is the week of The Last Supper, and the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah of Christianity.
Religion in Colombia
Colombia is a country with a strong Catholic background dating back to the Spanish conquistadors, and where the ties to the church continue to grow stronger.
According to the CIA World Factbook, 90% of Colombians classify themselves as Catholics. Although a significant percentage of these people are not practising Catholics, many categorise themselves as such because of family traditions and general beliefs.
Despite many followers leaving the church in recent years, priests are always hoping to regain some of the lost members of their congregations during this spiritual week.
In a recent survey by the Medellin based newspaper, El Colombiano, 62.4% of people in the greater Medellin area said they would be participating in the religious celebrations.
A city of over 2 million nestled in the Andes mountains, Medellin has been traditionally a strictly Catholic city, and for many, Semana Santa is a sacred week in the year. It's the perfect time to pray, spend time with family, go to mass, repent and renew both body and soul.
But with modern times ridding the country of many of the old stigmas and traditions brought over by the Spanish, many people see Semana Santa as nothing more than a week-long vacation.
Since half of the week is a public holiday and schools give their students the entire week off, those who aren't interested in the religious festivities choose to travel. Many families and groups of friends use the time for road trips, ignoring the religious meaning behind the Easter break.
Road Travel During Easter
Semana Santa is one of the busiest periods of road travel in the country according to the National Institute of Roads (INVIAS), a time when millions of people travel by car or bus, as each year the roads become safer.
The army is deployed to guard the interstate highways, and the government has announced 43 'safe routes' (El Colombiano) this year. These are routes that are assured as being safe for travel.
The only thing that cannot be controlled, of course, is the weather, and this year has brought on a fierce rainy season. Due to the mountainous landscape covering most of the country, landslides occur frequently. Drivers are urged to follow road rules and be cautious when traveling.
Although many Colombians use the week for relaxing, there are, in fact, a lot of travelers going on pilgrimages across the country. Cities like Popayan, 'the white city', in the country's south-west, and Bogotá, the capital, are inundated with religious tourists. But it is safe to say that most travelers are in full vacation mode.
In these changing times, when some people seek religion as a comfort while others dismiss it as a scam, traditionally religious countries such as Colombia are seeing big changes in their congregations and churches. The Catholic church, especially, is always trying to regain some of its lost members.
Whether the priests are right in thinking that the church-going population is growing; and whether those who participated in the survey conducted by El Colombiano will follow through with their pledges or simply enjoy the break, is yet to be seen. It will all end on Good Monday, after which the final statistics will be known.
To learn more about Medellin, visit the official Culture and Tourism website.
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