A Brief History:
A Diablito, or devil mask
When the Spanish arrived in Costa Rica, there were very few native people to be found. Even before the Spanish had actually arrived, the diseases brought by the white man were already traveling down the isthmus of Central America. When the Spanish did arrive in the 16th century, the Boruca Indians were fierce fighters and managed to escape the battle with the Spaniards. Today, the Boruca Indians celebrate each year with a Fiesta de los Diablitos, the festival of the little devils (also known as El Juego de los Diablitos), which takes place early in February each year.
Since their efforts to resist Spanish colonization, Boruca’s history hasn’t been easy. Eventually,
farming alone was not enough to sustain their tribe and the people were experiencing extreme poverty. As a result, in 1970 a group of women led by Margarita Moralez united with the focus of reclaiming the original Boruca crafts and traditions that made their people distinct. The group formed as the association La Flor de Boruca.
Over the next 30 years, they had a clear impact on the economy by increasing sales of crafts and focusing on both Costa Rica ecotourism and ethnotourism. In 1985 they were aided by the National Museum of Costa Rica in establishing a museum through which to tell the story of Boruca.
The beliefs, uses and traditions of masks are still going on today. The masks portraying the devil are the most relevant to Brunca culture—although they may seem frightening or sinister to an outsider, the Brunca view these masks as a symbol of wellbeing and believe that they serve as protection from evil spirits.
Similarly, in some ecological masks, the devil is portrayed in combination with nature; the devil represents protection of the ecological system, particularly the animals surrounding the village. The ecological masks cater more toward tourists and typically feature landscapes, plants, and animals.
Since their efforts to resist Spanish colonization, Boruca’s history hasn’t been easy. Eventually,
farming alone was not enough to sustain their tribe and the people were experiencing extreme poverty. As a result, in 1970 a group of women led by Margarita Moralez united with the focus of reclaiming the original Boruca crafts and traditions that made their people distinct. The group formed as the association La Flor de Boruca.
Over the next 30 years, they had a clear impact on the economy by increasing sales of crafts and focusing on both Costa Rica ecotourism and ethnotourism. In 1985 they were aided by the National Museum of Costa Rica in establishing a museum through which to tell the story of Boruca.
The beliefs, uses and traditions of masks are still going on today. The masks portraying the devil are the most relevant to Brunca culture—although they may seem frightening or sinister to an outsider, the Brunca view these masks as a symbol of wellbeing and believe that they serve as protection from evil spirits.
Similarly, in some ecological masks, the devil is portrayed in combination with nature; the devil represents protection of the ecological system, particularly the animals surrounding the village. The ecological masks cater more toward tourists and typically feature landscapes, plants, and animals.
