One of the most important parts of the culture in South America is that there is a significant Catholic population in most countries on the continent, and this means that the Easter celebrations in South America, or 'Semana Santa' as it is known, is a very important part of the year.

Indeed, Easter is considered to be the most important religious festival of the year, as it celebrates the founding of the religion, and the resurrection of Christ.

The Holy Week runs from Palm Sunday through to its culmination on Easter Sunday, and there are many traditions and special events that are seen in the country throughout these celebrations.

Church Visits During Holy Week

Many people will try and go to church every day during this period, while almost all Catholics will attend the larger services and masses during the week. One of the most interesting church events is held on Maundy Thursday in the Peruvian city of Cusco, and is known as the Lord of the Earthquakes, which is a parade that goes around the city before culminating at the Cathedral, and commemorates the day in 1650 when an earthquake struck the city, damaging most buildings apart from the Cathedral itself.

The churches really become full of worshipers from Good Friday onwards, as this is when most people will start their holiday period, and more people attend the important services on these days.

Traditional Foods to Eat During Easter Celebrations

Food plays an important role in the celebrations of Easter, with people in many countries choosing to fast between Good Friday and Holy Saturday, while in other areas people will eat with more restraint cutting out red meat during this period.

One interesting aspect is that many countries will have a traditional soup to break the fast, with potaje de la vigilia being a dish that is made with cod, spinach and chickpeas, and is eaten by many families in Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina to break the fast. In Ecuador, Fanesca is the soup used to break their fast, which is made with cod, vegetables and grain, and is usually served with mashed potato.

In Argentina and Uruguay, some people will also bake a special Easter bread ring for Easter Sunday, while in Paraguay most people will eat chipa, which is a type of cheese roll. One western tradition which is very rarely seen in South America is that of the chocolate egg, and these are only really seen in supermarkets rather than being a common sight across the region.

Easter Dances

Although many parts of the region have a strong Catholic population, the Easter celebrations have also taken on a distinctly South American atmosphere, with the Easter dances being traditions that aren't really seen elsewhere in the world. These are particularly seen in parts of Argentina and Brazil, where people come together to play traditional folk music and dance to help celebrate the Easter festival.

Processions and Parades

One of the key parts of the Easter celebrations is the series of parades and processions that take place, and in many cities these can be especially grand and impressive. One such parade traces the stations of the cross, which usually takes place on Good Friday, while a parade of Christian scenes runs through the city of Popayan, Colombia, on Maundy Thursday every year.

Easter Sunday is generally the largest day for parades and celebrations, and particularly in Brazil it is traditional to line the route of such a parade with rugs and carpets. Ouro Preto in Brazil is famous for its religious procession on this day, while in the city of Caracas, Venezuela, there is a tradition known as the 'Burning of Judas', where an effigy based on a local figure is paraded through the street before being burned on a large bonfire. Easter is a spectacular time to visit South America, and in almost every town and city you will find special events being held to mark the occasion.