All wanderlust readers must know about the Carnival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the Burning Man in Nevada, La Tomatina in Spain, Songkran in Thailand, but what is there in the small Caribbean island of Puerto Rico? Try the Festival of Saint James.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lopez
This festival takes place for more than 400 years. It is a fantastic mixture of contemporary arts, performance, and folklore. “Bomba” and “Plena” music fills the air, along with the rhythmic beat of drums followed by chants, songs, and laughter. Vejigantes march the streets, resembling colorful evil monsters with sharp teeth, plenty of horns and snouts, as others dance and sing.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lopez
The Vejigante’s origin trace back to twelth century medieval Spain when St. James led the battle against the infidel Moors. People began dressing as demons to honor the saint. As time passed; however, the procession’s purpose leaned towards remembering good will overcome all evil.
When the Spaniards reached Puerto Rico and brought Africans with them, the African and Taíno, Natives in the Caribbean, cultures molded the Vejigante folklore into the Puerto Rican image it is today.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lopez
The masks are known for their menacing looks and their whimsical features. They are created using papier mache, coconuts or gourds, paint, copper, metal, rubber, or even plastic gallon milk jugs. It can be extremely long and difficult progress, especially since most methods include gluing pieces of paper on top of one another to create the form the artist desires.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lopez
The Vejigante is a work of art you would not want to miss, regardless of the method used to create it.
If you would like to see these creatures in action, be sure to research about the Festival of St. James, or better yet, go to one.