TITLE: Español Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Latin America
COUNTRY: Ecuador
SUBREGION: San Andres
ETHNICITY: Quechua; Aymara
DESCRIPTION: Español (Spaniard) Mask
CATALOG ID: LAEC012
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Corpus Christi
AGE: ca. 1970s
MAIN MATERIAL: wire mesh
OTHER MATERIALS: metal strips; pig hair; paint
In Ecuador, as in Peru, wire mesh masks and elaborate costumes are worn to celebrate Corpus Christi and promote a good harvest. A carved wooden image of Jesus is accompanied through the town to the local church, where dancers and their families attend Mass. They then dance in a local ceremony attended by most of the village. The masks and costumes are intended to represent and parody well-dressed Spanish dandies. Both costumes and masks are frequently adorned with coins to parody the wealth of the Spaniards. Each dancer is accompanied by his family and musicians throughout.
