Holy Week in Popayán
| Holy Week processions in Popayán | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
 | |
| Location | Popayán, Colombia |
| Type | Intangible cultural heritage |
| Reference | 00259 |
| UNESCO region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2009 (33rd Session) |
The Holy Week in Popayán, Cauca (Colombia), is the celebration of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ through daily processions continuously performed since the sixteenth century between Good Friday nights and Holy Saturday. This parade takes place in the ancient streets of the "White City". Religious images of Spanish, Andalusian, Quito, Italian and Payanes arranged on a wooden platform with 4 front and 4 back "barrotes" (bars) are carried in the shoulders of the "Cargueros". These images are representations of different episodes recounted in the Gospels on the Passion, Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ. Each performance is a "paso" (step). The steps are taken through the streets, a distance of a cross-shaped layout since the time of the Conquest, passing by the main churches and temples of the city.
On September 30, 2009 it was declared a Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO committee.[1]
History
From the time of the conquest, Popayan has the first information about processions made by the King entrusted those carrying large crosses and in the form of penance and mourning whipped through the principal streets of the parade behind the sacrum was performed. In 1558 Philip II signed the royal charters authorizing the processions in Popayán. With the advance of the time the parade grew and became very important, as was the case that by the early seventeenth century, an edict was issued by the authorities demanded the beautification of the balconies and the houses where the procession pass. The chronicler José María Vergara y Vergara in one of his writings from 1859 described the weeks of Popayán as a solemn and important to the people every year payanés received him with fervor and faith.
The processions were acquired great importance and size over the years since it was increasing the number of images and ornaments that were enriched, this was thanks to economic and social development through the city during the Spanish period because Popayan became the political and economic center of the colony settled here since colonial institutions as the Royal Mint of Spain. Mining development in the Governorate of Popayán that processions will help great contribution in gold jewelry, silver and emeralds that embellished the images with crowns and jewels, the seats and litter. Mining was powered by Indian slave labor. Slaves had a life expectancy of three years. It was said one could never lose one´s way to the mines of Popayán because the roads were lined with bones of dead Indians. Hanke, Louis. Las Casas and the Spanish Struggle for Justice in the New World. Most of the development of the procession was in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth Española.La colonial period most of the images are of Spanish origin and Quito as they were the most prominent art schools of the time, the gold in is mostly payanesa.[2]
In the nineteenth century begins the period of independence and reduces the development in the processions due to war because most of the money was used for the cause of liberation. By the twentieth century it was the same for the economic crisis that lived Colombia.
The Processions
The processions of Holy Week opens with Cruz Alta, which is often accompanied by the acolytes, and with them the bell or on Good Friday for the rattle. These are followed by the military band of the National Police of Colombia, then follow the steps, headed by the passage of St. John the Evangelist (Holy Tuesday through Thursday), and ending every night with the Sorrowful (Tuesday through Good Friday ).
During every night of the Easter parade between 9 and 17 steps leading up images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, St. Peter, Mary Magdalene, Veronica, and other important characters in Holy Week. The steps are echos on wooden platforms with 4 "bars" front and 4 back to the shoulders of those responsible for transporting (Cargo), only the steps leading up images of Christ and the Virgin Mary carrying the Palio or seat in symbol royalty, some are made in fine fabrics and gold embroidery. Some steps are wood carvings in their portfolios (and front sides of the step). Good Friday steps carry their wallets in tortoiseshell. Images are Spanish, Andalusian, Quito, Italian and Payan of the XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX and XX.
Simultaneous events during Holy Week
During Holy Week or Easter Week the city is also home to the Religious Music Festival, which began in 1960 as an initiative of Edmundo Troya Mosquera, after his death, it is administered by his widow Stella Dupont Arias and his sons Juan Manuel and Ana Isabel Mosquera Dupont. It involves choirs, soloists and artists from around the world, and it is specialized in sacred music. It also carries out national sample Golden Hands craft, which exhibits the work of artists in the country.
See also
- Popayán
- Holy Week
- Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists
- Capirote
the cargo The freighters are in charge of taking the step during the procession, according to tradition can only be men. The cargo carried on his shoulders and bars are dressed in blue tunic and white cloth tied at the waist with a cord. Good Friday freighters carrying the cloth across his chest with a small purple wreath symbolizing mourning. On their heads they wear the crown but backwards, different as used in Spain.
References
- ↑ url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00011&RL=00259|editorial=UNESCO Culture Sector
- ↑ url=http://www.museonacional.gov.co/sites/popayan/popayan2.html|editorial=Museo Nacional de Colombia
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Coordinates: 4°36′56″N 74°04′08″W / 4.6155°N 74.0690°W