Place: Queretaro´s historic center streets
Date: April 14th 2017 (Viernes Santo – Holy Friday)
Time: 6:00 pm
La Semana Santa is an important tradition in our Mexican culture. Without doubt the Holy Week festivities and religious practices are yet another display in which our folklore and tradition is present in each occasion of the catholic commemoration of the passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
Starting on Holy Thursday in which the traditional Visita de los Siete Altares takes place; hundreds of people partake in a procession through the most important churches of Queretaro to reminisce the path of Christ before his crucifixion. On the same day many people display a shrine dedicated to La Virgen de Dolores at their patios, windows and doors; the altar is characteristic by the purple, the wheat and numerous pottery which create an incredible palette. After a long day, as the night falls, locals can be found at the typical and delicious Mexican food stands that can be found all around the streets.
The next day, Holy Friday, a very solemn tradition takes place on the streets of the centro. La Procesión del Silencio, has been taken place for the lat 34 years and is organized by the different Hermandades y Cofradías of Querétaro in which the participants march to demonstrate their great sorrow for Jesus Christ’s death. Early on the day – following the baroque tradition – the Way of the Cross is commemorated by a live reenactment of the three falls and crucifixion of christ. This live Via Crucis is also celebrated in several other other localities of Querétaro like el Marques, San Joaquin, Tolimán, Corregidora, Amealco, Peñamiller y Jalpan de Serra, where people prepare and rehearse with months in advance.
Every beginning has its end and definitely these festivities have their very joyous closure. The solemnity ends along with the resurrection of Christ with great joy and fun with a traditional event called La Quema de Judas. The fabrication of these Judas figures takes place during the previous weeks of lent when the artisans make sure to elaborate the most evil looking characters to represent the seven deadly sins. It is until this day that families buy the figures from the makers and take them home to set on fire and watch them burn. This tradition takes place on Saturday night, celebrating in anticipation the glory and resurrection of christ.
Through out the Holy Week many Churches in Querétaro offer live concerts in collaboration with the Queretaro conservatoire choir; El Templo de San Antonio and El Templo de La Congregacíon are both known to hold outstanding concerts where even the ancient pipe organs are played.
