How Does Colombia Celebrate Easter? A Glimpse into the Semana Santa

Easter is celebrated in Colombia with great devotion. The Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one of the most important festive weeks of the year. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, public life slows down in many places, giving way to religious traditions and spiritual reflection. Since colonial times, Catholic faith has shaped these days, but over the centuries, distinctive regional expressions have emerged. The traditional rites of Holy Week have blended with local cultural customs – from candlelit processions to vivid passion plays. For Colombians, Semana Santa is not only about religious observance but also a shared cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation.

Holy Week in Colombia – Faith, Culture, and Emotion

During Semana Santa, many towns and villages transform into stages of devotion. Churches across the country are decorated, and daily Masses, devotions, and processions take place. A central element is the procesiones: solemn processions where believers carry large wooden platforms, called Pasos, on their shoulders through the streets. These Pasos display intricately carved scenes from the Passion of Christ, often centuries-old statues adorned with flowers, candles, and ornaments. Accompanied by marching bands, choirs, and Nazarenos – penitents in long robes with pointed hoods – the processions create a deeply moving atmosphere, especially at night, when flickering candlelight and incense fill the air.

Beyond processions, other deeply rooted rituals take place across the country. On Palm Sunday, churches bless palm branches, which people take home for protection and blessing. On Holy Thursday, communities commemorate the Last Supper – in many places, priests symbolically wash the feet of the faithful, and it is traditional to visit seven different churches to pray and reflect on Christ’s suffering. Good Friday is a day of mourning, with silent processions following crosses and sacred images. Many Colombians abstain from eating meat, choosing fish dishes instead, as a sign of penitence.

After the solemn Easter Vigil with candlelit ceremonies and ringing bells on Holy Saturday, the week culminates in Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Christ with joy and gratitude.

Despite its religious core, Holy Week is also a vibrant cultural event. In some regions, unique customs have developed. In northern Colombia, traditional Easter sweets made of coconut, rice, or papaya are sold only during this time. A typical Lenten dish is Potaje de la Vigilia, a stew made with salt cod, chickpeas, and vegetables, traditionally served on Good Friday. In rural Caribbean areas, one may even encounter rare Lenten dishes such as iguana or turtle meat – a legacy from colonial times when "meatless" substitutes were sought. These details highlight the rich diversity of Colombian Easter traditions. Let's take a look at some of the country’s most iconic Semana Santa destinations.

Popayán – UNESCO-Honored Easter Processions

The whitewashed colonial city of Popayán in southwestern Colombia is internationally renowned for its grand Easter processions. Since the 16th century, faithful have walked its cobblestone streets during Holy Week to reenact the Passion of Christ. Popayán's Semana Santa is one of the oldest religious celebrations in the Americas and was recognized by UNESCO in 2009 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. From Tuesday evening to Holy Saturday, nightly processions represent different stages of the Passion story – from the Virgin Mary to the crucifixion and resurrection.

In the glow of countless candles, massive Pasos bearing Baroque wooden statues from the 17th and 18th centuries are carried through the historic city center. The Cargueros (bearers) lift these heavy images with solemn discipline, accompanied by sacred chants, drumbeats, and wafting incense.

During this week, the entire city is enveloped in solemnity and reverence. Residents and visitors line the streets in silence, many in traditional attire and holding candles. The highlight is Good Friday’s procession depicting the Crucifixion, drawing thousands of pilgrims from across Colombia and the world.

Alongside the processions, Popayán hosts the renowned Festival de Música Religiosa (Religious Music Festival) since 1964 – one of the oldest of its kind in Latin America. Chorales, sacred compositions, and classical works are performed in colonial churches and theaters by acclaimed national and international artists. For Popayán's residents, Semana Santa is more than an event – it is part of their identity, with preparations often beginning the Monday after Easter. This shared commitment preserves a living heritage rooted deeply in the city’s collective memory.

Mompox – Sacred Magic on the Magdalena River

Far to the north, on the banks of the Magdalena River, lies the quiet colonial town of Santa Cruz de Mompox. Despite its remote location, it has earned a reputation as Colombia’s second great Easter destination. Mompox’s Semana Santa blends Catholic devotion with local character and is unique in many ways. Friday processions begin weeks ahead of Easter. During Holy Week itself, processions pass through all seven colonial churches, turning the city into a pilgrimage through history.

A hallmark of Mompox’s processions is their rhythm: the participants walk "two steps forward, one step back," giving the movements a swaying, solemn cadence. This ritual dance, lit by candlelight in the warm tropical night, creates a mystical atmosphere. Many locals dress in their finest clothing – a tradition dating back to the 16th century, when wealthy families donated treasures to the church as acts of penance. Today, this gesture lives on through symbolic adornment and personal devotion.

A deeply moving ritual is the Serenata a los Difuntos (Serenade to the Departed) on Wednesday night, where townspeople gather at the candlelit cemetery to sing mourning songs for the dead. Then, in the early hours of Holy Thursday, the famed Procesión de los Nazarenos unfolds: penitents in purple robes and pointed hoods walk silently through candlelit streets – a spiritual highlight of the week.

With only around 25,000 residents, Mompox sees its population swell during Easter as visitors from cities like Bogotá and Medellín arrive. Its sun-drenched plazas and ancient churches provide a magnificent setting for the events. The air fills with brass bands, devotional songs, and the fragrance of flowers flown in from Bogotá to decorate the Pasos. Despite the crowds, Mompox retains a reverent, almost magical charm. Many Colombians agree: after Popayán, this is the country’s most intense Semana Santa experience.

Pamplona – A Prayerful Week in the Andes

Nestled in the green mountains of eastern Colombia, the historic town of Pamplona glows during Holy Week. It is considered one of the most authentic and traditional Semana Santa celebrations in the country. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the town observes numerous customs deeply rooted in regional culture. Several solemn processions wind through its colonial streets daily, in an atmosphere of quiet reverence. Locals experience the week with deep recogimiento – introspection and spiritual contemplation.

Pamplona is especially known for its musical side of Easter. For over two decades, it has hosted the Festival Internacional Coral de Música Sacra, an international choral gathering. In churches like the Santuario del Señor del Humilladero or Santa Clara Cathedral, choirs fill the sacred spaces with layered harmonies, enriching the Holy Week experience. The echo of sacred music within thick adobe walls creates a powerful spiritual connection felt by locals and visitors alike.

Pamplona also invites guests to explore its rich religious heritage. A museum of sacred art housed in a colonial mansion showcases religious artifacts, while artisans sell rosaries, carved saints, woven textiles, and candles. Culinary treats include sweets made by nuns and local bakers, from candied fruits to honey confections. Regional Andean dishes like mute santandereano, crispy empanadas de iglesia, and air-dried beef (carne oreada) also feature on Semana Santa menus. The blend of faith, tradition, and warm hospitality makes Pamplona a hidden gem for travelers seeking a heartfelt Easter experience off the beaten path.

Tunja – Centuries of Devotion and Living Faith

High in the Andean city of Tunja, capital of Boyacá, Easter has been celebrated for over 480 years. Among the most solemn and majestic Semana Santa traditions in Colombia, Tunja’s observances rival those of Popayán and Mompox. Since the 16th century, lay brotherhoods have meticulously organized the week’s events. Central among them is the Sociedad de Nazarenos de Tunja, a group of 320 members who preserve and coordinate the rituals, recognizable by their hooded penitential robes.

Celebrations begin the Friday before Palm Sunday with a Viernes de Dolores procession honoring the Virgin of Sorrows. From Palm Sunday onward, daily processions and Masses follow. Particularly striking is the Palm Sunday procession led by the archbishop, accompanied by hundreds bearing palms from the Iglesia de Las Nieves to the cathedral. What sets Tunja apart is its disciplined, reverent tone – ceremonies here are more restrained, yet profoundly moving.

Tunja also emphasizes education through tradition. On Holy Thursday and Good Friday, churches host a Museo de Semana Santa, where visitors can view ancient sacred images and learn about the meanings behind garments, symbols, and rituals. Brotherhood members explain, for example, the significance of incense, capirotes, and color symbolism. In this way, Tunja preserves its living heritage not only through ceremony but through shared understanding.

Local participation is strong: many families have taken part for generations, with children involved in decorating Pasos or walking in youth processions. As one organizer put it, "While others plan vacations, we prepare every detail a year in advance – our faith demands it." Bearing the heavy images is a labor of love, and when processions end in applause and grateful whispers, participants feel their devotion has been fulfilled. Semana Santa in Tunja is living history and heartfelt spirituality rolled into one.

Bogotá – Pilgrimage in the Capital

In Colombia’s bustling capital, Holy Week may at first seem quieter – many locals leave the city, and its streets grow calm. Yet Easter in Bogotá holds powerful traditions, most notably the pilgrimage to Mount Monserrate. At 3,152 meters (over 10,300 feet), the shrine of the Santo Señor Caído has drawn pilgrims since the 17th century. Each day during Holy Week, thousands climb the steep path, some barefoot or on their knees, as acts of gratitude or penance. On Holy Thursday 2023 alone, over 33,000 people made the ascent.

While some use the cable car, most prefer to walk the 3.2-kilometer trail, embracing the spiritual challenge. At the summit, they pray and admire the sweeping views over the silent city. Meanwhile, in historic districts like La Candelaria and Santa Fe, colonial churches invite believers to complete the traditional Seven Churches Walk – visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday or Good Friday to pray and reflect.

Though large processions are more common in smaller cities, Bogotá hosts dignified Masses and smaller reenactments. Some neighborhoods stage Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) outdoors, or passion plays in church courtyards. An old custom, the Sermón de las Siete Palabras (Sermon of the Seven Last Words), is delivered at noon on Good Friday in the cathedral.

Bogotá’s Semana Santa may feel less concentrated than in cities like Popayán, but in candlelit corners, before glowing altars, and on the trail to Monserrate, the spiritual depth of this sacred week is just as present.

Conclusion: Experiencing Easter in Colombia

Easter in Colombia is as diverse as the country itself. Whether witnessing the world-famous processions of Popayán, listening to sacred choirs in a small Andean town like Pamplona, or greeting the sunrise atop Monserrate in Bogotá, travelers will encounter a rich blend of faith, culture, and heartfelt hospitality. For those seeking an authentic and profound experience of Colombian traditions, Semana Santa is the perfect time to visit. The passion of the people, the vibrant rituals, and the spirit of hope that fills the air make Easter in Colombia truly unforgettable.

Feliz Pascua!