What do Los vejigantes represent?

The origins of the tradition go back to 12th century medieval Spain. The vejigante represented the evil Moors who were defeated by St. James. People dressed as demons (vejigantes) in a procession thrown to honor St.

What is the significance of Puerto Rico vejigante masks?

The vejigante is a folkloric figure who’s origins trace back to medieval Spain. The legend goes that the vejigante represented the infidel Moors who were defeated in a battle led by Saint James. To honor the saint, the people dressed as demons took to the street in an annual procession.

What does vejigantes mean in English?

The name Vejigante comes from the Spanish word vejiga, meaning bladder, and gigante, meaning giant. Vejigante (bay-he-Gahn-tay) are used to scare people during carnival time.

How much does a vejigante mask cost?

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What do the Taino symbols mean?

Therefore, the symbols used by the Tainos often have special significance. For example, the Taino symbols carved in stone show that the Native Americans respected all living things. The carvings also represent Taino beliefs and religious practices. They frequently highlight Taino gods and the Taino sun god.

Who created the vejigante mask?

The vejigante masks made in Loiza are distinct from those made elsewhere in Puerto Rico, because they are made of coconuts, a tradition not observed elsewhere. Raul Ayala made his first mask when he was fifteen, and learned from his father, Don Castor Ayala, who began selling them to others in the community in 1940.

What are Puerto Rican vejigantes?

The vejigante is a demon figure from medieval Spanish folklore that has become a staple of Puerto Rican Carnival culture. During Carnival festivals, the vejigante dress in a horned mask called a careta, and flowing costume to join the crowds in singing and dancing. The careta masks are a cultural symbol of Puerto Rico.

How do you pronounce vejigantes?

ve·ji·gante.

What are vejigante masks made from?

In Loíza, the vejigante masks are made from coconut, whose cortex has been carved out to allow a human face. The eyes and mouth are carved out of the coconut with an addition of bamboo teeth. The costume is made of “a jumper” that has a lot of extra fabric at the arms to simulate wings.

Were there natives in Puerto Rico?

The Taíno were an Arawak people who were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), and Puerto Rico.

How do you pronounce vejigante?

vejigante

1. beh. – hee. – gahn. – teh.
2. be. – xi. – ɣan. – te.
3. ve. – ji. – gan. – te.

Who made the vejigante masks?

Ponce Father and Son Vejigante Mask Makers Caraballo learned to make vejigantes from a neighbor, Francisca Salvador, who was the matriarch of a family that had been making masks for three-generations. Her son Juan Alindato and his son, also named Juan, are well-known Ponce artisans.

In which celebration are the vejigantes present?

A vejigante is a folkloric character in Puerto Rican festival celebrations, mainly seen during Carnival time.