Home > Patrimonio > Historia > The antiguan Corpus Christi

This solemn Catholic liturgy is intimately linked to the history and tradition of Antigua, Guatemala and the surrounding people.

he Noble City of Santiago of the Knights of Guatemala agreed on the 21st of May, 1543:

“…that because the first Thursday of Corpus Christi the Blessed Sacrament passes from the main church to this new city /…/ all of the residents on Wednesday will go to Vespers of this main church /…/ and Thursday awaking they will go in order to bring the procession, with the veneration that is required…”

corpus4The Priest Domingo Juarros in the Compendium of the History of Guatemala City refers to this event saying that: “According to those who have moved from Guatemala City, this Cathedral [of Santiago of Guatemala] has resided in various places.
At its construction is was located in Ciudad Vieja, but from the year 1543 it was moved to Antigua, Guatemala to the location where the Blessed Sacrament was brought the day of the celebration of the Corpus in solemn procession from Ciudad Vieja to be placed in the chapel of Saint Lucía, the chapel that served the Cathedral during the time it was built;…”

The Civilian Authorities had given the same report on the 10th of March of that same year.
In the middle of the 17th century, we have record that the Saint Hermano Pedro of San José Betancur participated in the 8th Eucharisic Procession, waving his cloak attached to a pole and exclaiming praises while the procession traveled through the streets that encircled the Main Square.

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At this time the tradition to create rugs according to the Canarian tradition began, a practice that ages later spread to Lent and the Holy Week.
With the passing of the years, this practice extended to the Parish Headquarters and surrounding populations, establishing the current or actual order.
On the eve of the “feast” there is the passing of the giants, who dance merrily accompanied by the marimba, pointing out the streets where the Eucharistic procession will pass.
Early on Thursday or Sunday the residents decorate the front of their houses with garlands, white and yellow drapings, and strings of fringes that hang from the eaves of the houses across the street, or make rugs of sawdust.
The members of the brotherhoods gather in the atrium of the temple to organize the procession, led by a big drum and tall cross.
The young children dressed as angels spread flower petals as the Blessed Sacrament passes.
In the square of the temple a market is available where seasonal fruits are offered such as: apples, pears, quinces, plums, as well as tamalitos de cambray, tayuyos y cheeses. Meanwhile in the kitchens the housewives give the final touches to pepián that is accompanied by white rice which will be the main dish for lunch.

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In the afternoon, the atmosphere of the square is filled with color, smell and taste, seasoned with the sound of marimbas.
This holiday is will be replicated from the sixtieth Thursday after Easter Sunday, along with the celebration of the The Solemn Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Antigua’s  Cathedral, until the month of October.
This gives the festivities of the populations of the Panchoy Valley a Eucharistic character, and constitutes the most extensive cycle of the popular Antiguan traditions and religion.

Text: Enrique Berdúo, Cronista de la Ciudad.

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