VEJIGANTE marionette like, parading during carnival in Ponce. Puerto Rico. US territory. February 2016
Image details
Contributor:
Marina Movschowitz / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
FF43W1File size:
93.2 MB (3.1 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
6985 x 4662 px | 59.1 x 39.5 cm | 23.3 x 15.5 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
7 February 2016Location:
Ponce, Puerto Rico. Caribbean Island. USA territory.More information:
According to gopuertorico.com : "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. Over time, the vejigante became a kind of folkloric demon, but in Puerto Rico, it took on a new dimension with the introduction of African and native Taíno cultural influence. The Africans supplied the drum-heavy music of bomba y plena, while the Taíno contributed native elements to the most important part of the vejigante costume: the mask. As such, the Puerto Rico vejigante is a cultural expression singular to Puerto Rico." "The Ponce Carnival is Puerto Rico's Caribbean shout-out to Mardi Gras and its more famous cousin in Rio de Janeiro. A festival that has been held for over 200 years, it's the epitome of all things boricua, and an annual testament to Puerto Ricans' capacity for whimsy and revelry. The carnival dominates the historic downtown area in the city of Ponce. The celebration takes place in February, in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent."