Prompted by Mark's question, I thought I'd share some info on the masks...

Here's the story behind the masks...

Though its origin is unknown, the community of Boruca participates in a yearly ritual called La Fiesta de los Diablitos (The Party of the Little Devils). In the celebration, the men of Boruca wear carved devil masks representing their ancestors, who were called "Little Devils" by the invading Spaniards, while one person wears a bull's mask and costume to represent the Conquistadors. During the three-day festival (which takes place in late December, coinciding with the New Year), the bull defeats the little devils, before they rise again as women and defeat the bull.

The masks that are pictured on my blog are not the traditional masks. The traditional masks are devil masks that are painted only in earth paints. These designs arose only within the last 10 years as interest in the craft was dwindling, both in and out of Boruca. A group of men that continued the craft formed a collective and sought out new variations that would renew interest in the craft. Hence the evolving designs of today.

The masks are carved from two types of wood: balsa and cedar (Cedro Maria). Balsa is a very soft wood that is best known in the States for its use in model planes and other flying kids' toys. Because of these properties, it is easy to carve, but flakes when trying to carve precise details. The cedar is more difficult to carve but is more able to be decorated with a knife.

One problem facing the community of Boruca right now is this: the economy is driven by the commerce associated with its two major traditional arts - masks and weaving. There is little diversity in their economy, which puts a heavy dependence on the demand for these products, as well as the materials used to produce these products. As a result, the industries may be threatened in the near future as products need to be purchased due to the reduced supply of material goods (mainly trees) for the production of their crafts.

If there are any more questions, I can try to answer them...