It’s undeniable that Ambergris Caye inhabits one of the most pleasing cultures in the world. Aside from the stunning aesthetics of Belize’s largest island, it boasts its undying rich culture that magnetizes foreign tourists in the locality; and one strong testament has been its recently held Easter Week Celebration.
The celebration, which manifests a balanced expression of a flabbergasting experience due to the sense of party atmosphere in the weekend, and at the same time, not overlooking the sense of faith and spiritual fulfillment incorporated in the Easter week celebration, gives the locals and tourists a very satisfying involvement in the annual event.
Spearheaded by the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church, Holy Week 2017 began on Palm Sunday, April 9th. The annual tradition began in the Palm Sunday mass, where palm leaves were blessed, given to the congregation, and turned into crosses as a symbol of their faith; which means the welcoming of Jesus to the Holy City.
After Holy Wednesday which halted the Lenten Season, the “Washing of the Feet” was initiated after Holy Thursday’s mass. Then, a vigil was held at the Parish Hall until midnight to bring in Good Friday; which signified Judas’ betrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Good Friday is viewed as the most religious day by the Roman Catholics, as Jesus Christ endured suffering to cleanse mankind of its sins.
On this day, the 14 Stations of the Cross were observed. Participants walked around the towns to various altars, holding images depicting Jesus’ final hours of life. After that, religious families remained at home for fasting and preparing for the afternoon ceremonies.
At the midday, the “Celebration of the Seven Words” commenced, and then followed by mass service and the Adoration of the Cross. And when the clock ticked at 5 PM, the Holy Procession took place.
As for the final days of the Holy Week, a perfect weekend filled with fun and parties is also commenced in town. After the 24-hour observation of “Dry Friday”, a radiant celebration of the Easter Glow Madness was anticipated, starting the unparalleled Easter weekend filled with sporting activities, picnics, barbecues, and even a foam party; which started the spread of fun and entertainment in line with the celebration of the Easter weekend.
Beachfront spots hosted all-day parties on Saturday and Sunday, where the Easter Splash Bash 2017 was held at the Central Park. The event featured popular Belizean artists and musicians such as Tanya Carter and Ernestine Carballo, and different competitions also took place throughout the day. The Easter Loca Fest also took charge, where a huge crowd enjoyed music and drinks in the night event.
On the other hand, the Holiday hotel also hosted their annual Easter Extravaganza, which featured a beach party with sandy beach fun, drinks, and international DJ artists. The foam party was also highly anticipated by a huge crowd, where participants danced and played in foam as soca, reggaeton, hip-hop and house music kept the party going. The event also hosted engaging activities ranging from game competitions, pop quizzes, dance contests, as well as beer drinking competitions.
Above all, local authorities stated that the 2017 Easter season was a success in terms of safety and security, declaring that no major incidents occurred in the Easter festivities.
With the 2017 Easter Week celebration of the Ambergris Caye an overall success, the island is indeed a major destination for tourists who are looking for a place as festive and organized as them. Not failing to deliver the holiness of the annual celebration, as well as providing an entertaining weekend as the icing on the cake, the community of the Ambergris Caye is undoubtedly an ideal place for a Holiday.