Locals enter the main square in the Kakchiquel Mayan town of Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala, on Maundy Thursday 2020. Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 9, 2020.
Cesar Toledo, 60, prepares to hang a purple cloth as Elvia de Toledo, 57, hangs a poster at the entrance to their shop. The Toledo family has owned a tailoring business in Jocotenango, Guatemala, since 1992, specializing in fabricating outfits for Cucuruchos, a name given to Catholic faithful who carry the large floats during the World-renowned Lent and Easter celebrations both in Jocotenango and Antigua. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations, and the family-owned business is on the verge of collapsing. This year they are focusing on sewing and selling face masks in order to have an income. Their home business is near Jocotenango's San Felipe de Jesus Sanctuary, the city's most sacred Catholic Church. As practicing Catholics, they create a small altar in front of their shop every year during Holy Week, colored according to the traditions. Today, Holy Wednesday, the altar is mostly purple and decorated with Statice, Chocón, and Nazareno flowers. Their mannequin, named Willy, is dressed according to the garb that would be worn by Cucuruchos on this day if the Holy Wednesday procession were to take place in San Felipe de Jesus. Jocotenango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 8, 2020.
Municipal Police officers from Alotenango manage a check point to enter the main town in order to control the COVID-19 virus from spreading in their municipality. The check point, which includes verifying documents, checking for temperature, and disinfecting both hands and vehicle wheels, is also guarded by soldiers. Holy Week decorations are visible in the background. Alotenango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 11, 2020.
Mario Ortiz (left), 24, and Nelson Coroy, 23, arrange bouquets of flowers. They are both members of a youth group creating a traditional sawdust carpet at the entrance to Santa Maria de Jesus' Catholic Church on Maundy Thursday. The traditional carpets are part of the Lent and Easter celebrations in Guatemala, as Catholic processions are meant to walk over them. Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations but local leaders allowed the creation of this carpet in the Kakchiquel Mayan town. Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 9, 2020.
Members of a youth group create a traditional sawdust carpet at the entrance to Santa Maria de Jesus' Catholic Church on Maundy Thursday. The traditional carpets are part of the Lent and Easter celebrations in Guatemala, as Catholic processions are meant to walk over them. Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations but local leaders allowed the creation of this carpet in the Kakchiquel Mayan town. Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 9, 2020.
Members of a youth group create a traditional sawdust carpet at the entrance to Jocotenango's San Felipe de Jesus Sanctuary, the city's most sacred Catholic Church, on Holy Wednesday. The traditional carpets are part of the World-renowned Lent and Easter celebrations in Antigua and Jocotenango, as Catholic processions are meant to walk over them. Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations. The boys spent roughly 100 US dollars on materials and spent over 2 hours creating the 50-foot-long carpet. Just as they were finishing the ephemeral art piece, Police officers arrived and asked them to destroy it as it could potentially attract a crowd, hence defying the current social distancing mandated by the Guatemalan government. A 4 PM curfew has been in place since March 23rd, and a localized lockdown was set for Holy Week. Jocotenango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 8, 2020.
Local priests Father Virgilio (front) and Father Maco lead a morning mass on Easter Sunday from the Cathedral in Ciudad Vieja. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations but Masses are being transmitted live via Facebook. Ciudad Vieja was founded in 1527 as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and served as the colonial capital until it was destroyed by a lahar flow from Agua Volcano in 1541, subsequently transferring all governmental powers to the adjacent town that is known today as Antigua Guatemala. Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 12, 2020.
A Police officer watches as membes of a youth group clean up a traditional sawdust carpet they created at the entrance to Jocotenango's San Felipe de Jesus Sanctuary, the city's most sacred Catholic Church, on Holy Wednesday. The traditional carpets are part of the World-renowned Lent and Easter celebrations in Antigua and Jocotenango, as Catholic processions are meant to walk over them. Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations. The boys spent roughly 100 US dollars on materials and spent over 2 hours creating the 50-foot-long carpet. Just as they were finishing the ephemeral art piece, Police officers arrived and asked them to destroy it as it could potentially attract a crowd, hence defying the current social distancing mandated by the Guatemalan government. A 4 PM curfew has been in place since March 23rd, and a localized lockdown was set for Holy Week. Jocotenango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 8, 2020.
Suly Sica (right), 33, tends two boys purchasing face masks from her textile shop. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suly is now fabricating and selling face masks in her home town of Santa Maria de Jesus, a Kakchiquel Mayan town 10 Kilometers from Antigua and located on the slope of Agua Volcano. Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 9, 2020.
A man wearing a face mask to protect himself during the COVID-19 pandemic, sits on a sidewalk in the Kakchiquel Mayan town of Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala, on Maundy Thursday 2020. Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 9, 2020.
A police car patrols Antigua's central park right before dusk on Good Friday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations and a 4 PM curfew has been implemented since March 23rd. Antigua, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 10, 2020.
A man carrying wood on his back crosses a check point managed by Municipal Police officers from Alotenango in order to control the COVID-19 virus from spreading in their municipality. The check point, which includes verifying documents, checking for temperature, and disinfecting both hands and vehicle wheels, is also guarded by soldiers. Holy Week decorations are visible in the background. Alotenango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 11, 2020.
Four men sit and talk in Ciudad Vieja's central park during Easter Sunday as Fuego volcano erupts in the background. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations. Ciudad Vieja was founded in 1527 as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and served as the colonial capital until it was destroyed by a lahar flow from Agua Volcano in 1541, subsequently transferring all governmental powers to the adjacent town that is known today as Antigua Guatemala. Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 12, 2020.
Rosario Martinez (center), 20, arranges a decorative branch as members of the Holy Virgin of Sorrows Sisterhood create a flower shrine in front of the Cathedral of Ciudad Vieja on Good Friday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations, but local authorities allowed the group to set up the ephemeral art piece. Ciudad Vieja was founded in 1527 as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and served as the colonial capital until it was destroyed by a lahar flow from Agua Volcano in 1541, subsequently transferring all governmental powers to the adjacent town that is known today as Antigua Guatemala. Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 10, 2020.
Members of the Holy Virgin of Sorrows Sisterhood create a flower shrine in front of the Cathedral of Ciudad Vieja on Good Friday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations, but local authorities allowed the group to set up the ephemeral art piece. Ciudad Vieja was founded in 1527 as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and served as the colonial capital until it was destroyed by a lahar flow from Agua Volcano in 1541, subsequently transferring all governmental powers to the adjacent town that is known today as Antigua Guatemala. Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 10, 2020.
Abigail Estrada, 14, poses for a photo after participating in the morning mass on Easter Sunday inside Ciudad Vieja's Cathedral. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations but Masses are being transmitted live via Facebook. Ciudad Vieja was founded in 1527 as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and served as the colonial capital until it was destroyed by a lahar flow from Agua Volcano in 1541, subsequently transferring all governmental powers to the adjacent town that is known today as Antigua Guatemala. Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 12, 2020.
Face masks for sale at the Toledo family Tailor Shop. The Toledo family has owned a tailoring business in Jocotenango, Guatemala, since 1992, specializing in fabricating outfits for Cucuruchos, a name given to Catholic faithful who carry the large floats during the World-renowned Lent and Easter celebrations both in Jocotenango and Antigua. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan government has cancelled all Holy Week celebrations, and the family-owned business is on the verge of collapsing. This year they are focusing on sewing and selling face masks in order to have an income. Their home business is near Jocotenango's San Felipe de Jesus Sanctuary, the city's most sacred Catholic Church. Jocotenango, Sacatepequez, Guatemala. April 8, 2020.