The origins of today’s Costa Rican mascaradas or mantudos came from the religious festivals of medieval Spain, and local aborigines carnivals. The masks were made of enormous proportions that made the wearer look like a dwarf and the masked people paraded in the street with comical movements. During the 1560’s, the town of Cartago was the first to be colonized by the Spanish and with that came the giant masked figures. To this day, Cartago is considered the cradle of mascaradas followed by the towns of Barva de Heredia and Escazú.
More recent masks are made from fiber glass, but the traditional ones are still made from paper maché. Each mask begins with the figure sculpted in clay followed by layers of various papers mixed with white glue. When the last outer layer is dry, the clay is removed and the mask continues to dry in the sun for a week. The character of the mask becomes apparent when it is painted, varnished and attired.
The Mantudos energize the public during festivals for a town’s patron saint and at ox cart parades. They are always accompanied by a cimarrona band which consists of a hodge podge of musicians playing horns and drums.
La Giganta (the Giantess)
The Giantess is a parody of the uptown ladies of wealthy Spanish colonial times. The Giantess’ mask has a structure that is placed on the user’s shoulders, who sees through a hole in the fabric of the dress. With exaggerated movements, prominent eyes and features, big hairdos and earrings, The Giantess is one of the traditional Mantudos in the local celebrations.
La Giganta, es una parodia a las señoras españolas acaudaladas de los tiempos de la colonia. La máscara de la Giganta posee una estructura que se coloca en los hombros del usuario, que ve a través de un orificio en la tela del vestido. Con movimientos exagerados, rasgos y ojos prominentes y grandes peinados y aretes o zancillos, la Giganta es uno de los Mantudos que nunca falta en las celebraciones.
El Gobernador (The Gobernor)
The Governor, the Diplomat, the 'Polecía' (policeman). These Mantudos were the authority figures parody from the colonial era. The Governor's mask has a structure that is placed on the the user’s shoulders, who sees through a hole in the fabric of the suit. The Governor along with The Giantess are one of the must-haves Mantudos in the celebrations.
El Gobernador, el Diplomático, el ‘Polecía’. Estos Mantudos eran la parodia a las figuras de autoridad de la época colonial. La máscara del Gobernador tiene una estructura que se coloca en los hombros del usuario, que ve a través de un orificio en la tela del traje. Junto a la Giganta es uno de los Mantudos que no deben faltar en las celebraciones.
El Cuijen (The Devil)
The Cuijen, Pisuicas or Diablillo. It’s another Cabezudo* who represents one of the recurrent characters from traditional stories and legends of Costa Rica. The devil was not an evil figure for the Aborigines, instead he was witty and wise, meanwhile for the Christians, is a malevolent and scary figure. The Cuijen like La Ñata, uses a pig's bladder, or a long branch to whip the people who aproaches him during the celebrations.
El Cuijen, Diablillo o Pisuicas. Es otro Cabezudo* que representa uno de los personajes recurrentes de los cuentos y leyendas tradicionales de Costa Rica. Para los aborígenes, el diablo no era una figura maligna, era un personaje astuto e ingenioso, mientras que para la fe cristiana, representa una figura malévola y de susto. El Cuijen al igual que la Ñata, usa una vejiga de chancho, rama larga o chilillo para azotar a los participantes de las celebraciones que se le acercan.
La Ñata (Death)
La Ñata is one of the tico names for Death (a ‘ñato’ is a flat nose person). Death is a recurrent character in Costa Rican legends and folk tales. Death is a Cabezudo* as the Diablillo or Cuijen, whom uses a whip made out of a branch or pig bladder and hits the people at the traditional parties. La Ñata is very slippery and fast.
La Ñata es uno de los nombres ticos para La Muerte (Ñato es una persona con la nariz chata). La Ñata es un personaje recurrente en las leyendas y cuentos tradicionales costarricenses. La Ñata es un Cabezudo* como el Diablillo o Cuijen que usa un chilillo, rama o vejiga de chancho para azotar a los participantes de las fiestas. La Ñata es muy escurridiza y rápida.
*Cabezudo: Big helmet mask clown / Máscara que cubre toda la cabeza.