No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsArts and CultureMasquerade parades in Costa Rica through Plaza de la Cultura

Masquerade parades in Costa Rica through Plaza de la Cultura

The “máscaras” are made of papier-mâché and often stand 10 feet in the air. Their faces are funny, scary, friendly, and malformed – but never ordinary. The “gigante” mask isn’t so much a mask as a giant body puppet. Operators strap into the oversized outfit, use a tiny window to breathe, and dance like there’s no tomorrow.

What better way to celebrate Halloween?

The Center for the Investigation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage hosted a colorful showcase of traditional Costa Rican masks in its great hall, where hundreds of people gathered yesterday morning to hear about these remarkable works. Sponsored by the Culture Ministry, the one-day exhibit incorporated 58 large masks and 54 smaller samples, which were spread throughout two floors. While the 25 contributing artists used traditional methods and styles, their masks were all created for a contest organized by the ministry.

Representatives Fernando González from the Center and Fresia Camacho of the ministry described the masks’ history and significance to a packed house, then handed out awards to the winners.

The art form dates back to Costa Rica’s colonial period, when the masks were influenced by Spanish, African and indigenous traditions. Faces represent a variety of Costa Rican archetypes (policeman, farmer) and folk characters (the Headless Priest is a Halloween favorite). The technique got a boost in the early 20th century from the Martínez family of Cartago, whose high quality máscarasbecame nationally recognized.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., performers scrambled into their masks and started to filter from the building. They marched down Avenida Central, guided by a brass quintet, and by the time they started to whirl and dance in the Plaza de la Cultura, the procession had attracted hundreds of revelers. Costa Rica isn’t known for its trick-or-treating or bobbing for apples, but the costumes were unparalleled.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Court Orders Urgent Regulation of Tuna Fishing Law

Costa Rica's Constitutional Court has stepped in to push the government on a long-delayed tuna fishing law. The court partially backed an appeal from...

Learning Spanish Through Music in Costa Rica: Misheard Lyrics and Wins

One of the most challenging parts of learning a language is understanding songs in that language. In my early days of learning Spanish, I...

5 Top Costa Rican Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Best List

Costa Rica's restaurants have landed spots on TripAdvisor's global list of top dining spots this year. Five local places made the cut in the...

How the US Shutdown Could Disrupts Travel to Costa Rica

As the US federal government enters a partial shutdown starting today October 1, travelers heading to Costa Rica face potential hurdles. The impasse stems...

Costa Rica’s President Clashes with TSE Over Campaign Rules

Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves has publicly criticized the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) for rules that limit how the government can share information during...

Bank of America Predicts Stable Exchange Rate for Costa Rica

Bank of America has released a fresh analysis of Costa Rica's economy, pointing to steady conditions ahead. The report predicts the dollar exchange rate...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica