Semana Santa y Semana Pascua

I haven't blogged in a while. I have actually been a little unmotivated to do so. My in-laws are coming to visit tomorrow so I have a very long list of things to do. Instead of working on the list I decided to sit down and blog. Today I was thinking about the first time that my in-laws came to our house after we were married. They only lived two hours away from Lubbock. They called us on Saturday and said they were coming to town to do some shopping on Sunday. We were super excited and I was a little nervous. I headed straight for the kitchen to prepare a meal. They were coming in after church so I knew that I wouldn't have much time so I needed to make something ahead of time that I could just throw in the oven. Well, I came up with Chicken spaghetti - I figured its easy, I had everything on hand, wouldn't be much work the next day, and who doesn't like chicken spaghetti? That night I stayed up till two o'clock cleaning my house to impress them with how good of a housekeeper I was. I wanted so bad to make a good impression. Well, as far as I remember everything went well with their visit. We ate and went shopping. I don't know exactly when but sometime later (probably a few months) I found out that my father in-law detests chicken and he is not a fan of pasta!! He sais chicken is FOUL. Oops couldn't have choosen a worst dish to have served. He is a great guy and I am sure he ate every bit of it and might have even asked for seconds just to make me feel better! Believe it or not almost 9 years later and I haven't cooked another meal for them - not because I don't want to but because they love treating us and taking us out to eat.
Well, preparing for this visit is much less stressfull although I did repaint the bathroom and have a very long list of things to do. If they don't get done I promise I will NOT be up scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees at two o'clock like last time.
We are super excited about their visit. They are so much fun to be around and they spoil us.
This week is Semana Santa (Holy week) and next week is Semana Pascua (Easter week). A large part of the Mexican population goes on vacation during this time. Mainly they go to the beaches. It is nice for those of us that stay here because the traffic dies down and things calm down. The kids are out of school for 2 1/2 weeks and many adults get off of work during at least part of this time if not all.

The following is taken directly from a web site. I will give the link and acknowledgment at the end.
This is what a Mexican magazine has to say about Holy Week and Easter Week.

Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was crucified. In Mexico, where 90% of the population is baptized Catholic, although many don't actually practice, Easter is taken very seriously - and literally - with colorful, passionate processions reenacting the Passion of Jesus Christ's last days on earth.
The week leading up to Easter, known in English as Holy Week, is called Semana Santa in Latin American countries and is celebrated with processions, Masses and other events that mark Jesus Christ's triumphant return to Jerusalem, his trial, his walk carrying the cross, and his crucifixion.
In Merida and in many villages, people recreate the Via Cruses, complete with actors and costumes of those ancient times. They also acknowledge the 13 stations, the places where Jesus fell as he bore his burden. It can be quite striking to see a mass of people dressed in the clothing of Jesus' time, walking behind an actor playing Jesus as he struggles doubled over from the weight of an enormous cross, with a crown of thorns on his head. Roman soldiers stand by and the Apostles are there as well. The actors are then hung on the crosses. Townspeople walk in the procession too, playing the role of the penitents who marched behind Jesus. It is moving to watch. Palm Sunday, Domingo de Ramos in Spanish, starts off Semana Santa on Sunday March 16th, this year and the week builds toward Maudy Thursday, Good Friday and of course, Easter Sunday, known as Dia de Gloria - Day of glory. On Palm Sunday everyone goes to Mass in the morning for the blessing of the Palm leaves; when dry, the leaves are made into crosses that people use as amulets, adorning their cars and homes. On Maudy Thursday and Good Friday (March 20th & 21th), the activities become more elaborate. On Maudy Thursday the "washing of the feet" ceremony is celebrated. During Mass, the highest-ranking priest washes the feet of twelve common people in representation of the 12 apostles
http://www.yucatantoday.com/events/eng-semana-santa.htm
There is a little cultural information for you.