I was lucky to be in Antigua during the weeks-long build up to Semana Santa and Easter. Every weekend, a procession leaves one church in Antigua or a neighboring village and circles through Antigua. On Friday night, a carpet of sawdust or pine boughs is constructed within the church. The carpet is decorated with colored sawdust, flowers, leaves, and seeds. The float is carried over the carpet, destroying it as the procession passes.
Carpets are also constructed on the street where the procession will pass. On this weekend, the procession began in the church at Jocotenango, a village just north of Antigua. Most of the road between the two towns had been blocked off so only pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists could get through. We soon came upon bright sawdust carpets.
Stencils are used to create intricate patterns on top of the base layer. Boards are suspended over the carpet so the crafters can access the middle without stepping in the sawdust. Someone constantly mists the sawdust to hold it together.
The carpets made of pine boughs were very different. Sawdust was used for some adornment but flowers and leaves were more typical. 
A more modern design and execution was the use of bottle caps, shredded newspaper, and rolled-up foil in the shape of a fish.
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