e-lecture

e-lecture: carnivale!

The Carnivale we will be studying is from Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a tiny island south of the Atlantic Ocean and north of the Caribbean Sea. It's very close to Florida. Every February Puerto Rico has a festival called Carnivale, and it lasts the entire month! The tradition started back in the Middle Ages. There are 3 places in Puerto Rico that still celebrate the tradition. Ponce, is in the southern end, Loiza is in the northeastern part, and Hatillo is in the western section. The people in Ponce have been celebrating the Carnivale for over 250 years! It consists of parades, music, and special events. It is special because it is celebrated before the Christian season of Lent, the 6 weeks before Easter. During Carnivale people make elaborate masks,, dress up in costumes, dance, and play music.



Carnivale de Ponce is celebrated each year and conicides with Mardi Gras and Carnevale of Venice and Rio de Janiero. It is hosted in the beautiful city of Ponce and has been around for about 145 years in this section. The tradition is that men and teenage boys dress up in clown like costumes wearing scary masks. The masks are constructed out of papier-mache. They have colorful horns and fangs and look like devilish or fantasy animals.

The person who wears the mask is called vejigante. This word orginates from the Spanish word vejiga which means bladder. The people that take on the roll of the vejigantes will take a dried up bladder from a cow or goat and inflate it. They paint it to resemble a balloon and put dried beans inside to make noise. These men dress in costumes that are made up of different colored fabrics. They also wear a cape which gives the illusion of wings. The vejigantes roam around in their neighborhoods or barrios in groups singing and chasing women and children.

Goal:
Students will be more aware of mulitcultural festivals and their meanings.

Objectives:
1. Students will learn about Puerto Rico.
2. Students will compare the history of the masquerader to other places.
3. Students will design their own mask.

Activity:
Students will create their own mask using paper, markers, crayons, and other found objects. All masks do not have to be scary because some children are sensitive.

Extension:
Students can scan their mask onto the computer and use Photoshop to make changes.

Vocabulary:
Puerto Rico
Ponce
Loiza
Hatillo
Papier-mache
Vejigante
Vejiga
Barrio

Critique:
Each student will stand in the front of the room and present their mask to the class. Each student will write a few sentences about their mask and what it is used for during the parade (decoration, scare people, religious purpose).