Holy Week (Semana Santa) is upon us and the traditions continue, even if hampered by the pandemic. Some are culinary, some are religious (events, songs, processions, pilgrimages, etc.), some are cultural, and some are elsewhere.
Ah, the foods! Cheese soup, fish, and “almibar” are 3 favorites. Fridays of Lent prohibit meat (for Catholics) so fish and cheese soup are often eaten. “Almibar” is a sweet dish made from abundant fruits available at this time and includes: mango, papaya, coconut, jocote, grosella, cashew, cinnamon, clove, pepper and sugar cane syrup. While you can use a spoon, fingers are also needed to chew off the fruits’ meats.
Nicaraguan Cheese soup.
“Almibar,” is a traditional Holy Week sweet.
A few favorite religious traditions include re-enacting Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding a donkey, making “alfombras” (carpets from colored sawdust and other materials) depicting biblical scenes and parts of Jesus’ life, dressed up pets receiving blessings from Saint Lazarus, the Stations of the Cross to the little islands by Granada, and the long ox-cart pilgrimage to Popoyuapa.
Men carry the image of Jesus Christ before Palm Sunday mass at the Cathedral of Managua, on March 25, 2018. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for the Christians, and commemorates Jesus entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, welcomed by crowds waving palm branches, before his arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection. / AFP PHOTO / INTI OCON (Photo credit should read INTI OCON/AFP via Getty Images) 
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Many traditions exist, even including going to the ocean, rivers and lagoons to cool off during this hottest time of the year. Some businesses and schools close for all or part of the week.