In the province, different Holy Week activities are carried out in which Judas figures take to the streets. Their creators accompany them with ingenious choreographies.
In Mazatenango, Suchitepéquez, For the second consecutive year the contest of the traditional Judas dance was held In front of the Central Park, activity promoted by the municipal authorities to preserve Guatemalan customs and traditions.
Leslie Ávila, coordinator of the event, indicated that this year 22 Judas participated and that there were cash prizes in the activity.
In the departmental head, this is a tradition that has disappeared, contrary to the municipality of Chicacao, where more than 1,500 Judas, or in San Francisco Zapotitlán and San Pablo Jocopilas, who have turned the activity into an annual party that attracts visitors, are gather annually.
Participation was restricted to the elaboration of a traditional Judas, with the use of specific materials and designs.
Fredy Xicay, neighbor of the Quilá canton, Samayac, won first place. He has five years of creating the character; However, this is the first time he does it in Mazatenango.
“I take my children to the contests to learn about this tradition and preserve it for new generations. We must transmit knowledge to children so that our traditions remain,” Xicay said.
The winning Judas was elaborated with Dry banana tree veins, which makes it rigid and light to load during dances. As part of his clothing, he wore vest, morral, a red band and hat.
Dance in Retalhuleu
Beaten A doll that represents Judas Iscariot is a tradition that remains alive in Retalhuleu.
This Holy Thursday, the streets were the stage of different groups that presented a dance show and creative choreographies, and that accompanied the passage of Judas as part of the Holy Week activities.
“Before the tradition was to ask for bread; now they dance and people give collaboration. This allows them to keep the costumes and raise funds for the elaboration of the Judas, which are now more colorful and entertaining,” said Marina Cotoc.
America Chan López, coordinator of the Judas Michael Jackson group, mentioned that there are 15 members and that they formed three years ago. “It is a teamwork and prepare a choreography to introduce ourselves this Holy Week. We elaborate our Judas doll and travel several streets of Retalhuleu,” he said.
The activity was carried out for the fourth consecutive year in front of the Palace of the Interior, in zone 1, and the participants were rewarded for the creativity of their choreographies and costumes.
The dolls are made with wood and banana leaves; In addition, they are placed a mask, wig and gloves.
“The tradition is that people give bread in exchange for seeing Judas dance. Some give a collaboration; other groups charge for dancing,” said Rony Quiñónez, originally from Nuevo San Carlos, who has more than 20 years of making the character.
With information from Marvin Túnchez from Suchitepéquez and Victoria Ruíz de Retalhuleu.