Mascarada Puppets of Costa Rica

Experience typical Costa Rican mask making...

Mascarada de Costa Rica

Photo Credit: MASCARADAS COSTA RICA
on Flickr, Creative Commons.

Get to know Costa Rica - Excursiones de un medio día El Encanto

Go on a tour to learn about the traditions of Costa Rica including a visit to a workshop of Don Gerardo Montoya. Don Gerardo Montoya is the grandson of legendary Pedro Arias, one of the first Costa Ricans to introduce the mascarades to the Central Valley of Costa Rica. On this tour you will be able to watch the process of making the typical masks. You are even invited to try on one of the puppets used for the Mascaradas.

La Mascarada

Visiting the Factory of Don Gerardo is a unique experience. Besides seeing a typical "mascarada dance", Don Gerardo invites you to participate with other visitors in making the uglest mask using traditional techniques.

On the tour you will also visit the local Church as well as a typical sugar mill.

Traditions of the masquerade

Mascarada - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

La mascarada era una forma de entretenimiento cortesano festivo que floreció en Europa durante el siglo XVI y principios del XVIII, aunque con anterioridad se había desarrollado en Italia.

Mascarades con Cimarrona

Masquerades and the Bands that Accompany Them

Photo Credit: MASCARADAS COSTA RICA
on Flickr, Creative Commons.

Costa Rica is bringing back the tradition of masquerades. They can now be seen in festivals throughout the country. The puppets are accompanied by La Cimarrona, a typical band that provides the music for the puppets and bystanders to dance with eachother. The music provided by La Cimarrona invites the audience to join in the Limbo, the Conga or just dance to the rhythms solo, in pairs or in groups. Laughter and fun for all ages.

RETOS DE TRADICIONES DE NUESTROS PAISES

Las mascaradas en Costa Rica son una tradicion... no pueden faltar en festejos populares..

Junto las mascaradas... no falta La Cimarrona.. son quienes los ponen a bailar

Día de la Mascarada Tradicional Costarricense

Masquerade Day is becoming a Tradition in Costa Rica

Photo Credit: MASCARADAS COSTA RICA

On October 31, 1996, the Cultural Committee of Awerri organized a parade to give an authentic reason for celebrating Halloween in Costa Rica. The next year, the Costa Rican government decreed the Day of the Traditional Costa Rican Mascarade to be held on October 31 each year.

Costa Ricans hope to eliminate the encroach of this foreign holiday which they see as encouraging children to beg. Instead they are encouraging people to make their own typical Costa Rican puppets and celebrate with music, art and dance.

Día de la Mascarada reinvents Halloween to Celebrate Costa Rican Traditions

El 31 de Octubre de 1996, el comité Cultural Aqueserrí organizó un pasacalles en Aserrí (de la provincia de San José) con el objetivo de darle un sentido más autóctono a la festividad de Halloween. Un año después, motivado por esa iniciativa, el gobierno de la República firmó un decreto para instaurar el Día de la Mascarada Tradicional Costarricense el 31 de octubre de cada año.

Costa Rica celebrates el Día de la Mascarada on October 31 - Teletica

While thousands of people in the rest of the world are dressing up as witches, fairies and super heroes, Costa Ricans are putting on traditional Costa Rican puppets called mascaras.