Good Friday in Oaxaca 2016

[bixaorellana]

This is an impressionistic view of Good Friday in Oaxaca -- just a series of images from today.
For fuller coverage, there are my Good Friday threads from 2013 and 2015

Shortly after noon today I ducked into the cathedral for a break from the heat and sun ~

People venerating an image of the shrouded Christ ~

[bixaorellana]

The church of Carmen Alto is on my route home. I frequently cut through its churchyard just because I love the huge trees there and the old stone paving.
It has also been a rich source of Good Friday pictures in the past. Today was no exception, and they kindly let me into the work area to snap away ~

~ finis ~

[bjd]

I went to a funeral yesterday. The statues in the church were covered too and there were almost no flowers because it was Good Friday.

[Deleted]

It looks like Mexico takes this more seriously than other religious events. I would have expected sugar crucifixes with a chocolate Jesus and maybe some nice stigmata cakes with a splash of red icing in the middle.

[bjd]

I think any country that was originally colonized by the Spanish is more over-the-top in their religious celebrations. Even in Spain, the statues in the churches are often pretty gruesome.

[Deleted]

comment by casimira

Great pics Bixa.

I was not at all surprised by the representation/presentation that prevails there.

New Orleans has a huge Catholic population and go to some lengths similar to Mexico but not quite as elaborate.

Thanks for getting out and snapping,( although I'm a wee disappointed you didn't depict all fourteen Stations of The Cross. )

[htmb]

A nice little series, Bixa.

[bixaorellana]

When I read your post, Bjd, I envisioned that church and funeral in black and white.

Tsk, tsk, Kerouac. I'd have thought that, after all the day of the dead threads I've made you all wade through, you'd have grasped the essential difference between DofD and the other Catholic religious holidays in Mexico. That is, Day of the Dead is a pre-columbian belief and celebration with the Christian All Saints/All Souls tacked on to it. Thus, it is observed in a uniquely Mexican way. Good Friday, on the other hand, is straight from the religion imported by the Spanish and still observed the way it's observed in Spain.

You hit the nail on the head, Bjd!

Thanks so much, Casimira. I do have the 5th station for you!

Thank you, Htmb.

Here, to interject a more Mexican touch for Kerouac, is a look at how a major downtown street is decorated for Lent ~




And for Casimira, something I saw on my way home this evening in the blue hour ~

The sign on the left says "Visit the prisoners" -- a reference to the fifth corporal work of mercy, and the one on the right names the fifth station of the cross:
"Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the Cross."

[Deleted]

Thanks Bixa.
I knew you would not disappoint.

[tod2]

Bixa, I see loads of work going into getting geared up for Easter in the church. That man in the orange shirt preparing bouquets, the other guy looking at the figure of Christ carrying a green cross....seems to be saying "Are you OK to do this?"
I loved the white alstroemerias surrounding (and mixed in with other white flowers on the funeral bed)- or known as "Lily of the Incas"... so I can see why they are there.

[Mary Ann,better known as Mama]

Beautiful pictures--I am so glad you posted them. When we lived in Madrid, you would see a ladies all dresses in purple. They were doing penance.
Love and a Blessed Easter.Mama

[htmb]

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, Casimira ~ I aim to please!

Thank you, Tod. I knew that alstroemeria was from Peru, but I never heard the lovely name, "lily of the Incas" before.
Actually, all of those flowers are not waiting for Easter. They were to adorn the litters of the statues that would be carried through the streets that evening of Good Friday in the Procession of Silence.

Mama! I am so thrilled to see you here and thank you so much for the kind words.
Yes, I do remember those ladies in their purple dresses. I seem to remember that they had yellow sashes around their waists, too. The men wore purple shirts and I think also yellow sashes.
All my love, Dot

Look at Htmb giving great big smiles to my mommy!

[htmb]

Your mommy is so very nice!

[bixaorellana]

Thanks ~ I rather think so!