Alfombras

Alfombras, i.e. carpets, are created on the street in Antigua through which the Cuaresma and Semana Santa processions pass. Here are some that we saw last Sunday. They're made of a variety of materials: flowers, colored sand, colored saw dust, evergreen needles, palms, and, as the King of Siam said in The King and I,  "et cetera, et cetera, et cetera."

This one is in front of the Cathedral.

It was a big one.

It can be very detailed work.

No one is allowed to walk on them, except the men and women carrying the processional barges.

Some are minimalistic.

Some are long.

Some appear modern in design.

And some seem to take the rug concept too seriously.

Regardless of the design, they are hard work, often done by families living or having businesses on the route of the procession. While they are not required, many feel obligated to continue what has probably been a family tradition for a long time.

When the alfonbra is finshed, it's time for the process to pass. Note, these Roman Soldiers will walk around the alfombra in front of them. Only the men and women carrying the processional barges are allowed to walk through them, because they carry Christ and the saints.

After the procession has passed, the cleaning crew get to work removing all evidence that any alfombras were in the street.

Anyone who has ever been to a Texas A&M University home football game will recognize the concept. It just like the crew that follow Parson's Mounted Calvary as they parade along the track in Kyle Field removing every trace that they were ever there.