By Steve Worthy
Special To The Carolinian
Each year, starting around July 23rd, in a town on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, tradition comes alive with the annual FiestasTradicionales en Honor a Santiago Ap6sto (Saint James the Apostle Traditional Celebration). The annual event takes place in Loiza, Puerto Rico and consists of Bomba dances & music, culinary delights, different professions honoring men, women and children and fun for the family.
Loiza, a town of about 30,000 people, can be claimed as the center of Afro-Puerto Ricans, or Afroboricuans, has given an influence on culture not only here but throughout the island of Puerto Rico.
The Saint James celebration also consists of different processions on different days honoring men, women and children. The march represents Saint James’ victory over the Moors in the 12th century who are represented by the vejigantes who march in the procession. Vejigantes here generally wear masks made of coconuts, or papier mache, with a human face, horns and wear a unique and colorful jumpers to simulate wings. Vejigentes are folkloric, or demonic, characters with roots in 17th century Spain who were used to scare people into going to church. Today, they are more associated with cultural identity of Loiza and Puerto Rico.
They, along with citizens from the town, follow behind Saint James on a horse, a statue, carried by four men and women for about eight miles in the city. Citizens pay their respects by tying ribbons onto Saint James as it goes by.
At night, in the Miguel Fuentes Pinet baseball stadium parking lot, different groups, such as the Ayala Brothers Folkloric Dance group, delighted the crowd with Bomba dance and music along with rides and concessions for the whole family.
