The Vejigantes
Dublin Core
Title
The Vejigantes
Subject
Vejigantes
Description
Describes the origins, characteristics and celebrations of the Puerto Rican folkloric tradition of "Los Vejigantes", a character associated with the music of bomba and plena.
Creator
Nicole Wines
Date
2009
Rights
© Raíces Cultural Center
Format
jpeg
Language
en
Type
Text
Identifier
EFMI_bomba_y_plena_vegigantes_Infosheet_2009.jpg
Coverage
Puerto Rico
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
A vejigante is a clown-like character who appears in festival celebrations of Puerto Rico. Traditional colors of the Vejigantes were black, red, and yellow. Today, vejigantes wear brightly colored, ornate masks (máscaras) of all colors and a costume with bat-like wings. The word vejigante comes from the words vejiga (bladder) and gigante (giant), due to the custom of blowing up and painting cow bladders. Bystanders are often tapped with the bladders during the processional. The masks are often linked to many festivals that continue today, especially in the cities of Loíza and Ponce.
Original Format
paper
Citation
Nicole Wines, “The Vejigantes,” Raíces Cultural Center Digital Archive, accessed March 28, 2024, https://archive.raicesculturalcenter.org/items/show/3.