The Carnival of America began with the festivities of San Sebastián in Vega Vieja which included horse races where the rider carries his lance strung with ribbons the color of his beloved’s dress.
< Fantasies criation
From the Orient to Spanish Royalty
The diabolic face was adopted from the East while the suit and cape came from Spanish Royalty which was inspired by Egyptian Pharos. Other elements of the Limping Devil (Diablo Cojuelo) came from Extremadura, Spain, such as the dried out cow bladder which is a symbol of what people are going to be giving up for the next 40 days of Lent. The Afro-Antilles culture brought the custom of smacking away the evils spirits.
The Belt Dance originated in the Canary Islands during the period of annexation to Spain.
Haitian Occupation
During the Haitian occupation of the DR, festivals were held in the Lecier mansion and people came dressed up as French people. From this came the mamarracho (worst dressed) festivals.
The Cubans
Between 1890 and 1910 Cubans, attracted by coffee and cacao, arrived in La Vega and created a dance called the Dance of Snake which is actually an African version of the Chinese Dragon Dance.
In 1950, the modern era of Carnival began in all its splendor.
Devils
Font Gamundi rescató el Baile de las Cintas y un grupo de veganos comenzó a disfrazarse de diablos, entre ellos Pablo de la Mora, Radhamés Ramos, Luis y Cucho Carretero, los hermanos Abud, los hermanos Sánchez, Titico, Guido, Santiago Ramos, Kírico, Yonni García, Plinio (La Muerte), Gabi Moya, Zoilo García, Maney Saviñón, Cuqui Córdoba, Oscar, Burito, Rafael Burgos, el doctor Yanguela y Chiquin y Pitágoras Lora.
There once was a troupe of five devils made up of Freddy, Pompi, Gabi, Maney and Francisco Adames. The original material of the costume was changed from sarrazo to satin. Among the best tailors and seamstresses of this time were Angel Abreu, Yonni García and Nina Moronta. The best mask makers then were Felipe Abreu, Millo and Andrés.
The Death of Dictator Trujillo
Following the death of the dictator Trujillo and the revolution of April 1965, the carnival lapsed into a state of lethargy. Things picked back up again during the 1970s with the help of companies like Bermúdez and groups like the Cara de Gato (Face of the Cat); the Brugal Devils, the Montecarlo Group, Felipe Abreu, and a group of young people disguised as bats.
Outstanding Carnival Characters
Some of the outstanding carnival characters at the end of the 1960s and ‘70s include Ivan the Boa, the only person who dared to use a mask in a time when masks were prohibited. Then there was Milito with his Roba la Gallina (Hen Thief), Agustín Fernández with his band of Indians, Kilo and the Doll/Man.
Carnival 47 - Troupes with Names - New Models
In Carnival 47 was headed by Doctor Grullón, Lucilo Marte, Cristian Rosario (The Old Man) and Juan Marte, but the boom of today’s world famous “limping devils” came about in 1982. They introduced the shiny material in their pink, silver and wine-colored costumes.
In the 1980s, troupes with names came about. The first was the Broncos.
Also new artisans got involved among them are Puli, Bule, Winston D`Oleo and Cayoya.
In 1989 sequined material was introduced and by the 1990 more changes had occurred in fashion as well as in the material used for costumes and accessories. Some of the designers who made costumes for the oft-seen Devils of La Vega include Fillo, The Chinaman, Tono, Melvin, William, and Carlitos.
Marcos the Boa, the Picapiedras and Luis Rivas with the Dukes also did their part.
It would be impossible to write the history of the Carnival of La Vega without talking about the La Vega Carnival Union (UCAVE), the La Vega Carnival Committee and National Microwaves in terms of publicity and commercialization of the Carnival of La Vega.
(EXTRACTS OF THIS HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF THE CARNIVAL OF LA VEGA WERE DONE BY THE ARCHITECT ORLANDO LORA, VICE PRESIDENT OF UCAVE)
