In Ecuador, we have two big religious processions of this event for the Catholicism. The “Jesus del Gran Poder” procession in Quito, “La Carita de Dios”, on Good Friday thousands of local and foreigner people go to the Colonial site of the Capital to walk and commemorate the Via Crucis. This procession begins at noon and thousands of devotes represent the traditional “Cucuruchos” symbolizing the penitents, they are always dressed in purple showing their repentance and wishing to change their lives.
Not only the men participate on this celebration, also women play an important roll of this event, they are traditionally known as the “Sad Verónicas”, who represent the women that got close to Jesus Christ while he went to the calvary. These women also wear in purple and they protect their face with a black veil.
Also, a lot of sinners walk representing Jesus Christ carrying their crosses over their shoulders and back, feeling not only the terrible physic weight but also the pain in their spirits and hearts. Following Jesus Christ, we can see the “Brave romans soldiers” that punish them. Each person walks motivated for the immense faith and some of them walk without shoes, as symbol of penance or with big chains in their feet.
The procession takes about 3 hours and it ends when Jesus died, around 6 pm o’clock.
The Holy Week and its traditional Procession is a religious celebration that represents the richest culture of Ecuador. A country that respects the ancestor culture with the “Inti Raymi” and keeps the colonial costumes such the catholic procession.
This event is one of many traditions of Ecuador, a country full of culture!!!
