El Vejigante

A vejigante is a common folkloric character seen in Puerto Rico during Carnaval, Santiago (St James) saint day, and other festival celebrations. The characters march in parades wearing colorful and ornate masks and costumes with bat wings. The word vejigante comes from 2 words that mean giant bladder (vejiga gigante) because they originally held a “weapon” of a large, blown up, painted cow bladder!

Later, in the 12th century, Catholics in Spain were trying to push the Moors out of Spain. Santiago, (St James the Apostle) the patron saint of Spain, was believed to help the Spanish in battle. On July 25th, his Saint’s day, people celebrated the victory and made vejigante characters to represent the defeated Moors.