Summary of the visit of the mascaradas of Costa Rica

  Between days 13 of June and 2 of July, a group formed by 32 people coming from Costa Rica visited our their mascaradas traditional music and fifteen country, taking with which these dance by their streets.

The expedition went headed by representatives of the Board of directors of the Colegio Universitario de Cartago, which at the same time showed the representation of its Municipality, representatives of the Municipalidad de Barva de Heredia, of the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica and Jasec, besides the group of mascaradas “Los Chapetones”, of Barva de Heredia, and other several mascaradas of the locality of Carthage, all this accompanying by the music of wild “La Rebellion”, of Heredia.

Throughout their stay, the mascaradas ones participated in four encounters:

- 14 of June, in La Llacuna

- 21 of June, in Riudoms

- 24 of June, in l'Estartit

- 28 of June, in Vallgorguina

This visit took place like return of which groups of giants of La Llacuna, Poboleda, Riudoms and Vallgorguina carried out to that one country in the months of October and November of 2007. It must be reviewed that in Encuentro de Riudoms it attended Mr. Ramon Fontdevila, Director of Centre de Promoció de la Cultura Popular i Tradicional de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Igualment in the one of Vallgorguina, attended like guest Mr. Albert Moya, President of the Agrupació de Colles de Geganters de Catalunya.

Throughout their stay in our country the Costa Rican representatives were received from official way by the following personalities and institutions:

- Honorable President del Parlament de Catalunya.

- Honorable Conseller de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

- Honorable Consul of Costa Rica.

- Ilustre Vice-president of the Diputació de Tarragona.

- Ilustre Delegada Consellera of Culture of the Diputació de Barcelona.

- Consell Comarcal de l'Anoia.

- Ajuntament de La Llacuna.

- Ajuntament de Riudoms.

- Ajuntament de Torroella de Montgrí.

- Ajuntament de Vallgorguina.

Of these activities there are different visual sections in our Gallery from Images.

It must be said that the presence of mascaradas and the wild one in the parades were impressive, reason why represented of fusion between two worlds of giants that had never been in our country.

Also the presence of the Costa Rican official representatives in front of the institutions meant a better knowledge of the cultural realities of both countries and a projection of first hand on what it is the image that gives the Circle within the world of the mascaradas ones of Costa Rica, as well as his incidence through Agreement of existing Collaboration with the Colegio Universitario de Cartago, fact that emphasized against the authorities of our country the present members of their Board of directors in the expedition. At the same time one took advantage to the future redefine the relations between the CIAG and the CUC, going towards with a level even more official, to prepare the masterful lines of the next one “to 1er. Congress Euroamericano de Mascaradas, Giants and other elements of the Popular Culture”, in celebrating to Carthage, and planning future visits of groups from giants to Costa Rica, committing itself the Circle to harness the presence of the Costa Rican mascaradas ones in other countries.

Agreeing with its presence in Vallgorguina the act of sponsorship of the denominated giants took place “El Rey” and “La Reina”, constructed by Victor Pons, and his later gift to the CUC and the Mascarada “Los Chapetones”, thus corresponding to the flattery of two figures that they did to us in the course of the official visit of the Circle of year 2007.

To these figures the seal corresponding to the month of July is dedicated and in its corresponding card an ample explanation of the same exists.

Also, day 1 of July, during the celebration of goodbye, Don Miguel Moreira, constructor of giants of Barva de Heredia, gave to the Circle another figure, this denominated time “Don Ramon” and so that parade next to “La Chapetona” the other figure that already had given to us in 2007, which filled to us of joy.

We wish to very sincerely thank for to all the participants, come from Costa Rica or convecinos ours, by to have made possible east great encounter between giants of both continent.

An innovating, beneficial visit has really treated and of consolidation that will not be forgotten easily.