DeLares (Eliud Martinez)
Select LR-6723
Festival De Mascaras, Hatillo, Puerto Rico 12-28-11
Unlike past years when I've shown color images of this festival, I decided to go black and white. Although there was a profusion of vivid color, I felt that the faces, cultural essence and traditions of this festival were best rendered with the freshness and timelessness of monochrome. The costumes and floats are usually constructed starting in January and worked on throughout the year. Many people I spoke to complained that the cultural and religious aspects of this event have been diluted with festival themes that reflect the coarseness of North American pop culture and values. The absence of political content was interesting given the global awareness of the Arab Spring and OWS. The only restrictions placed on the overall designs were those related to public safety. Various neighborhood and farm sponsored groups are organized by float owners who develop a particular theme, provide costumes, food and refreshment to individuals who pay approximately $400.00 for participating in the festival ride. Although participants were mostly adolescents and young adults, children, families and older folks also took part.
I arrived at 7am in the Plaza of Hatillo and then walked to one of the staging areas outside of town where I began a many mile journey into the countryside and then back to the town Plaza. Originally the plan had been to hire a cyclist to drive me to avoid massive traffic jams of cars, people and horses. Since this plan fell through, I decided to ride festival floats getting off in various countryside barrios to capture the pulse and cultural mix of the people. In addition to photographing while riding the floats I got off to shoot along the way. When I got to Barrio Lechuga (approx 5.5 miles from Hatillo), I walked (thankfully down-hill) all the way back to town where I was able photograph part of a folkloric dance group performance as well as covering the review of festival floats arriving in the town plaza. Though the FDM has a religious and folkloric history, in recent years it has evolved into a cross between, carnival, April Fools Day and Halloween. The amount of noise and mayhem was as overpowering as always. Although in the beginning I had some anxiety about my (and equipment) safety given the prevailing general chaos, people were welcoming and friendly. It turned out to be an exciting and memorable12 hour photo safari. It's a good thing I''ve been working-out recently because it turned out to be a fun but grueling day.
A BIT OF HISTORY:
El Festival de Mascaras de Hatillo se celebra desde que los españoles fundaron esta ciudad en 1823. Representa la historia bíblica de Herodes cuando ordenó la matanza de todos los niños para así matar al niño Jesús. Los hombres cubiertos con máscaras de colores representando a los soldados corren o cabalgan por la ciudad en la mañana temprano buscando a los niños. Hay comida, artesanía y música.
There is a Tradition each year on the 28th of December which is known as the Máscaras (Masks) of Hatillo. This Tradition dates back to 1823, when the town of Hatillo was founded. This Tradition came with settlers from the Canary Islands. The meaning of this tradition is the Holy Innocents, or Santos Inocentes: the first martyrs of Christian faith from Matthew's story in which small children were killed by Herod in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Jesus. It is a very special day with lots of fun and a large meeting of Mascaras: masked men and women of all ages, who wear costumes according to tradition, typically covered from head to toe, and parade through their town and nearby towns all day, making jokes and having fun, followed by a large multiple, and celebrated procession through all the town and nearby town's neighborhoods, and ending at the Hatillo town center. It is a multi-dynamic and wonderful experience for everyone in Hatillo and nearby towns. This special tradition came from the Canary Islands, the main place from Spain where the Hatillo, Camuy, and nearby town's Spanish immigrants arrived, mainly in the 1800's. Many of the people of Hatillo, Camuy, Arecibo, and other nearby towns are proud to call themselves "Isleños", or people descended from Canary Island immigrants.
See the complete portfolio slide show: www.flickr.com/photos/artedelares/sets/72157628751481697/...
Select LR-6723
Festival De Mascaras, Hatillo, Puerto Rico 12-28-11
Unlike past years when I've shown color images of this festival, I decided to go black and white. Although there was a profusion of vivid color, I felt that the faces, cultural essence and traditions of this festival were best rendered with the freshness and timelessness of monochrome. The costumes and floats are usually constructed starting in January and worked on throughout the year. Many people I spoke to complained that the cultural and religious aspects of this event have been diluted with festival themes that reflect the coarseness of North American pop culture and values. The absence of political content was interesting given the global awareness of the Arab Spring and OWS. The only restrictions placed on the overall designs were those related to public safety. Various neighborhood and farm sponsored groups are organized by float owners who develop a particular theme, provide costumes, food and refreshment to individuals who pay approximately $400.00 for participating in the festival ride. Although participants were mostly adolescents and young adults, children, families and older folks also took part.
I arrived at 7am in the Plaza of Hatillo and then walked to one of the staging areas outside of town where I began a many mile journey into the countryside and then back to the town Plaza. Originally the plan had been to hire a cyclist to drive me to avoid massive traffic jams of cars, people and horses. Since this plan fell through, I decided to ride festival floats getting off in various countryside barrios to capture the pulse and cultural mix of the people. In addition to photographing while riding the floats I got off to shoot along the way. When I got to Barrio Lechuga (approx 5.5 miles from Hatillo), I walked (thankfully down-hill) all the way back to town where I was able photograph part of a folkloric dance group performance as well as covering the review of festival floats arriving in the town plaza. Though the FDM has a religious and folkloric history, in recent years it has evolved into a cross between, carnival, April Fools Day and Halloween. The amount of noise and mayhem was as overpowering as always. Although in the beginning I had some anxiety about my (and equipment) safety given the prevailing general chaos, people were welcoming and friendly. It turned out to be an exciting and memorable12 hour photo safari. It's a good thing I''ve been working-out recently because it turned out to be a fun but grueling day.
A BIT OF HISTORY:
El Festival de Mascaras de Hatillo se celebra desde que los españoles fundaron esta ciudad en 1823. Representa la historia bíblica de Herodes cuando ordenó la matanza de todos los niños para así matar al niño Jesús. Los hombres cubiertos con máscaras de colores representando a los soldados corren o cabalgan por la ciudad en la mañana temprano buscando a los niños. Hay comida, artesanía y música.
There is a Tradition each year on the 28th of December which is known as the Máscaras (Masks) of Hatillo. This Tradition dates back to 1823, when the town of Hatillo was founded. This Tradition came with settlers from the Canary Islands. The meaning of this tradition is the Holy Innocents, or Santos Inocentes: the first martyrs of Christian faith from Matthew's story in which small children were killed by Herod in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Jesus. It is a very special day with lots of fun and a large meeting of Mascaras: masked men and women of all ages, who wear costumes according to tradition, typically covered from head to toe, and parade through their town and nearby towns all day, making jokes and having fun, followed by a large multiple, and celebrated procession through all the town and nearby town's neighborhoods, and ending at the Hatillo town center. It is a multi-dynamic and wonderful experience for everyone in Hatillo and nearby towns. This special tradition came from the Canary Islands, the main place from Spain where the Hatillo, Camuy, and nearby town's Spanish immigrants arrived, mainly in the 1800's. Many of the people of Hatillo, Camuy, Arecibo, and other nearby towns are proud to call themselves "Isleños", or people descended from Canary Island immigrants.
See the complete portfolio slide show: www.flickr.com/photos/artedelares/sets/72157628751481697/...