Disfraz de Carnaval

Description:

This homemade costume was made for the Ponce carnival. It has a cape attached at the neck made from the same black and red striped fabric (black and red are the colors of the city of Ponce). Carnival participants who wear costumes like this one, in addition to a mask, and other carnival accoutrements like matching shoes, canes, and gloves, are called vejigantes. Vejigantes are famous for playfully swatting at carnival-goers with a vejiga, a dried, inflated bladder. When a real animal bladder in not available, an empty water bottle is an acceptable substitute.

Date Made: ca 1980

Description (Spanish): Este disfraz casero se confeccionó para el carnaval de Ponce. Lleva una capa adherida al cuello, hecha del mismo género de franjas negras y rojas (el negro y el rojo son los colores de la ciudad de Ponce). A los participantes del carnaval que visten trajes como éste -además de la máscara y otros accesorios, como calzado haciendo juego, bastones y guantes- se los llaman vejigantes. Los vejigantes son famosos por deambular por las calles dando palmadas con sus vejigas (vejigas infladas y secas) a los concurrentes a la celebración. En caso de no contarse con vejigas reales de animales, se aceptan como sustitutos botellas de agua vacía.Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: Puerto Rico

Subject: CarnivalsPuerto RicoCostume

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Ethnic, Cultures & Communities, Vidal

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Teodoro Vidal

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1997.0097.0047Accession Number: 1997.0097Catalog Number: 1997.0097.0047

Object Name: costume

Physical Description: textile; cotton; metal (overall material)cotton (overall material)metal (overall material)Measurements: overall: 160 cm x 152 cm; x 63 in x 59 13/16 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-315d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_600925

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.