2009 San Joaquín de Flores Semana Santa (Easter) Procession Schedule

In addition to masses, communions and prayer services, the following processions will take place in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia.

The church in Llorente de San Joaquín is located east of Intel on the road between Intel and Heredia. The central church is in San Joaquín proper – 2 blocks north of the main road between Alajuela and Heredia.

FRIDAY, April 10
9:00 am
Procession of the Stations of the Cross (Santo via Crucis) begins in the church in Llorente (Templo de Llorente) and proceeds to the central church (Templo Parroquial)
3:00 pm
The Passion of Christ (Celebración del Pasión del Señor) at the central church followed by a procession with the corpse of Christ (Procesión del Santo Entierro)

SATURDAY, April 11
7:00 pm
Vigil (Vigilia Pascual) followed by a bonfire (Fuego y del Cirio Pascual) at the central church

SUNDAY, April 12
3:00 pm
Communion (Eucaristía) followed by a procession of the risen Christ (Procesión del imagen del Resucitado) at the central church

Resurrection and final procession

Once the resurrection re-enactment is completed, bells ring and there is a final procession including priests in colorful robes, marchers and floats adorned with beautiful floral arrangements.  Children on the floats throw flowers to the crowd of bystanders.  Thus ends another Semana Santa in Costa Rica. 

Semana Santa Resurrection re-enactment

Crowds gather early on the soccer field in front of the church to see the final re-enactment of Semana Santa, followed by a procession.

Good Friday ghost town … Heredia

Normally a hustling bustling town filled with cars, buses and people, Heredia was dead quiet today.

Alcohol sales soar today and end tonight

At 8:00 PM today, Costa Rica’s ban on alcohol sales will go into effect.  Liquor sections in grocery stores will be covered in black plastic and taped to prevent access to cans of Imperial, Pilsen and Bavaria.  Bars will shut down, many with yellow tape over their doorways announcing the fact.  Anyone prosecuted and convicted for selling liquor during this time is subject to a jail sentence.  (FYI: Liquor bans are also in effect during presidential elections.)

Semana Santa procession schedule in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia

San Joaquín, located 4 km. west of Heredia, is well-known for its Easter Processions, particularly the one on Friday morning.  Local residents practice during the weeks beforehand and arrive costumed and in character for the processions.  (Several other communities have processionals and many of them are covered on TV.)

Maundy Thursday, March 20

7:30 PM  Procession commemorating Jesus’ capture in the Garden of Gethsemane beginning at the church in Llorente (south of the main road going through San Joaquin)

Good Friday, March 21

9:00 AM  Procession of the Twelve Stations of the Cross beginning at the church in Llorente and processing to the central church (2 blocks north of the main street going through town)

3:00 PM  Crucifixion re-enactment at the central church

Saturday, March 22

4:00 PM  Procession of silence at the central church

7:00 PM  Easter vigil and burning of Judas in effigy at the central church

Easter Sunday, March 23

3:00 PM  Communion and procession commemorating the resurrection at the central church

Note: Saturday evening, often referred to as Judas Night, is a time when some young people participate in vandalism and violence.  Police are aware of this and their presence is more evident on this evening.

Semana Santa preparations

Several homeowners are now displaying crosses draped in purple in their front yards in anticipation of Holy Week, Semana Santa.  Processions and re-enactments will begin Friday morning and continue throughout the weekend.  (Photos to be posted.)  Government offices are closed all week, bus service is limited (on Thursday) and no alcohol is available for purchase during the weekend.  This is a week when there is a mass exodus for the beach.  If you are planning to go there, avoid returning to the Central Valley on Sunday, if you can.   The autopista will be like a parking lot.