article
Masking the site: the Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol in Loíza, Puerto Rico
Journal of American folklore • 114 (453) • Published In 2001 • Pages: 358-369
By: Harris, Max.
Abstract
In this paper Harris discusses the Fiestas de Santiago Apostol in Loiza, Puerto Rico, as he observed it in July 1997. Both the religious, and secular aspects of this traditional festival are described in detail. Harris challenges the ideas of the scholar Ricardo Alegria, who believes the festival draws its strength from a mixture of Spanish mock battles between Moors and Christians, on one hand and the importation of Yoruba deities and masks by means of the slave population, on the other. Harris challenges the Yoruba presence and puts fourth the argument that the fiestas are probably rooted in the combination of local tensions, Carnival, and Christianity. The exposition of these two points of view form a major part of this document.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2012
- Region
- Middle America and the Caribbean
- Sub Region
- Caribbean
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle; 2012
- Field Date
- 1997
- Coverage Date
- 1500-1997
- Coverage Place
- Loiza, Puerto Rico
- Notes
- Max Harris
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 368-369)
- Published for the American Folk-lore Society by Houghton, Mifflin, and Co.
- LCCN
- 17028737
- LCSH
- Puerto Ricans