JESUS NAZARENO DE LOS MILAGROS, REY DEL UNIVERSO

After admiring the solemn egress of Jesus de la Borriquita we walked about 8 blocks to see this other procession.  One thing I have not included in the posts is the fact that each procession has a composition made for it to be played during the marching out and in of the church.

As we wait the first to make the bend around the corner is a parade of Romans, with standards and ensigns.

Along with the Romans in two lines on each side of the street come the Cucuruchos (bearers dressed in traditional purple and white or black outfits).

One of the Cucuruchos was walking in line playing a deep and sad tone in a native wooden flute.

Just before the float the incense setting the melancholic and heavenly ambiance. When you have grown around this type of traditions this smell of incense, pine, "corozo" is a blend you take with you 'forever' and when in it a again it takes you back to 'an always'.

We were standing on right side of the street two rows behind and noticed there was nobody on the other side so we crossed to take first row. When the float came we realized that we keep being on the opposite side of Jesus semblance! Next procession I will make a point to be in the right side.

History  dates Jesus Nazareno de los Milagros Rey del Universoto the 17th Century and came to Guatemala in 1781 and it is attributed to Alonzo de la Paz y Toledo. 

You can see in the picture below flowers that were thrown to the float and a dove passanger.

The cortege egresses at 7.00 and does its entrance at midnight with a total of about 120 turns, that means that with 112 men per turn bearing, it takes a total of  13,440 arms to bring back the procession to the Santuary of our Lord "Saint Joseph".

As in most procession  Jesus is followed then by Mary's cortege which often includes Saint John Evangelist and Mary Magdalene. Young boys bring Saint John and young girls Mary Magdalene.

Mary is bore by 56 women, 28 on each side for a total of  approximately 6,720 women for the whole length of the parade.

I love this picture a woman "cargando" and holding hands with her daughter walking along with her. The daughter is dressed all white which makes me thing she also has a turn to carry Mary Magdelene.

Under the float men steer and direct the marching. When it's time to stop a buzzard sounds, every so often they say one, two, three, raise! I keep thing being under this heavy floats its a job I don't want. You can estimate the weight by multiplying the number of "cargadores" (bearers) times 40-45 pounds for the men and 30-35 for the women. That would make these ones about: 4900 pounds for Jesus's and 1900 pounds for Mary's.

The processional images of Mary have a dagger on her heart symbolizing the pain suffered by the passion of her son Jesus.

In the video girls bearing Mary Magdalene.

In the next video you can hear a little boy saying Hay viene la Virgen! (There comes The Virgen). As you can see the street are crowded with spectator all along the processional route from 7.00 to midnight. The Music in the background comes from a house.