Middle School Spanish Classes Celebrate the Legend of Vejigante
This week in middle school Spanish, Dr. McCoy and Mrs. Sanchez’s classes studied the legend of the vejigante, a creature from folklore that represents those defeated in the Spanish battle, led by Saint James, against the Moors. To honor the Saint, people dress up as demons in annual street parades.
This tradition orientated in Spain, but it is a tradition in Puerto Rico as well. In Puerto Rico, the legend of vejigante has been heavily influenced by African and native Taíno cultures.
Participants at Ponce Carnival, one of Puerto Rico’s largest cultural event, can watch crowds dressed up as the vejigante, dressed in an ornate mask and flowing cape, stroll happily through the crowds playfully teasing people in the streets.
As a part of Hispanic Heritage Month, students created their own masks using everything from shells and glitter to paper mache. The masks now decorate the lockers on the sixth and seventh grade halls of Wesleyan Hall.
