Holy Week or Major Week is the most important time of the entire liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. Many countries even declare holidays so that the faithful participate in their activities, but not in all American nations are officially celebrated.
Here are some of the countries of America where Holy Week is not celebrated.
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Mexico
The nation that houses the sacred image of the Virgin of Guadalupe does not contemplate the celebration of Holy Week officially. The Constitution of the United Mexican States It defines the country as secular and does not adopt any religion in particular, while sustaining the “historical principle of the separation of the State and the churches.” The faithful can attend Holy Week masses, but do not have religious holidays.
USA
According to the official calendar of the United States of America over the holidaysthe country does not recognize any date of Holy Week as a holiday. There may be exceptions in each state, but at the federal level it is not celebrated.
Uruguay
This South American country, northeast of Argentina, does not commemorate the major week. Its constitution points in its Article 5 that “the State does not hold any religion.” However, Holy Week is called Tourism Weekbeing Thursday and Good Friday, working holidays.
Cuba
The island, under the communist regime, does not recognize Holy Week, but an advance is that the authorities declare every Good Friday as a day of work break. This according to the Law 116 of the Labor Codewhich in its article 100 establishes “as a work recess day on Good Friday of each year.”
Other countries in the world that do not celebrate Holy Week officially are those of Muslim majority such as Türkiye, Egypt and Iraq. Also, in the Asian continent are Japan with believers of Tintoism and Buddhism, and China with a large number of Buddhists.
It should be noted that the Catholic Church is present in almost all countries of the world and although not all nations celebrate the major week, the faithful do.
Abel Camasca
Journalist graduated from the Communication Sciences career at the University of Lima. Part of the ACI Press newspaper since 2014. Between 2016 and 2022 I was in charge of the production of the Ewtn News and more than news program, World Catholic Radio Program. I usually write articles about the lives of the saints.