The Vejigante is a colorful character that is a blend of Puerto Rico's African, Spanish, and Taino influences. During Carnival in the cities of Ponce and Loiza, Vejigantes wear colorful costumes and carry decorative cow bladders (vejigas). They roam the streets in groups, trying to scare people. These masks are a unique art form found only on the island of Puerto Rico.

 

Mrs. Delgado's class made Vejigante masks as part of our study of Puerto Rico. It was a long and fun process! First, we made armatures using balloons, cups and take-out containers. Next, we formed horns using wire and newspaper. Once the armatures were complete, we started our paper mache. It was messy, but a lot of fun! We worked on the masks over many days, building up the layers of paper mache to give the masks structure. When they were finished, we started painting. A few layers of base coat, then some colorful dots. As you can see, each mask is special and unique with its own personality. We hope you enjoy our gallery of Vejigante masks!