Easter in Ajijic, Mexico

You´ll have a hard time reconizing Christmas and Easter celebrations here in Mexico. They last much longer than they do back home and they are more festive, involving the entire community. We certainly felt free to join in the public displays of joy. It´s contagious. The locals are very welcoming. Life here is leisurely.

Good Friday.
Holy Week celebrations involved processions of Roman centurions, the blowing up of paper-mache Judas and a dramatic rendering of Christ´s suffering on the cross.

On Good Friday the town organized a Passion Play. In the churchyard Jesus of Nazareth was put on trial. Here he was crowned with a ring of thorns. The procession where a real life Jesus figure dragged his cross through the streets followed by the mourning Mary Magdalen and the saints and the ever present menancing Roman centurions. The young men of the village re-enact the whole story. It is a great honor to be chosen, Jesus for this role. He was perfect. Shoulder length hair. Clothed in a white robe with a rope at his waist. Serious. Very good looking! Strong. After the trial inside the church he had to drag this very heavy wooden cross (estimates were 200 pounds!) from the Cathedral , through the village streets and up the mountain to the chapel. He was accompanied by hundreds, maybe thousands of followers and stern-looking Romans. The spectacle was amazing! It commemorates the magnitude of Christ´s suffering on the cross. Once up the mountain there was a simulated crucifixion. There were also the crucifixion of the two thieves. Finally, Jesus was lowered from the cross and placed on a streatcher of some sort. He was completly covered in a white linen cloth and brought down the mountain and into the Cathedral where there was a Mass.

On Saturday after Mass, again, the townspeople gathered outside for some comic relief. There was a raucous burning of "Los Judas". Large paper- mache effigies, painted in eye-popping colours, represented Judas and other forces of evil, including the devil and unpopular political personalities. Yes. They have these here too! The figures are hung up in the street and the town plaza. They are ignited in quick succession and blown to bits, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. What fun!

So this is Easter in Mexico. What you won´t find is any sign of the Easter bunny! No jelly beans. No marshmellow chickens. No cellophane grass. No Easter baskets. These are "Gringo" customs that have failed to make it across the border. Yet.
Mexican schools are closed now for two weeks to celebrate Easter. All workers are granted time off with pay. There is a happiness in the streets you can taste! We feel so lucky to be part of it all.