The past week (Semana Santa – Holy week) has been a holiday for all the kids in town. Many adults were also on holiday all week. Friday, the whole country closed down (almost everyone was on holiday, most people go to the river or somewhere to swim on the Friday) – a lot of people had trouble with transportation because the buses werent running. Thankfully, someone told me before Friday that all the shops would be closed so made sure I had what I needed beforehand.
The Thursday night, two streets were blocked off (one being mine) so the cars couldnt pass, and people make massive ‘carpets’ out of sawdust. First they lay down the plain sawdust and flatten it out, then use templates out of cardboard they had made to make beautiful designs out of coloured sawdust. The people work late into the night and most of the next day in the beating hot sun to make the designs. They see it as a sacrifice, hoping that God will be pleased with them because of the time they spent in the hot sun, making beautiful designs. They really do look amazing.
Friday night, there was a parade were they carried a statue of Jesus lying down, and some others were carrying a few Mary’s. It was beautiful to watch. They stopped right in-front of my place and read from the Bible. I have some photos and videos of the sawdust carpets and the parade.
A little earlier on the Thursday night, my neighbours made a smaller ‘carpet’ and put a big red heart in it, and the words ‘Casate conmigo’ which means ‘Marry me’. Later that evening, the intended couple came up the street and the boyfriend got one one knee and proposed. Most of the street was out watching, and cheered when she said yes. (There are a couple of photos of that too, but the power lines in front of my apartment get in the way).