From Spain to Puerto Rico: The Origins of the VejiganteThe name vejigante comes from the combination of the Spanish words vejiga (bladder) and gigante (giant). “Vejigantes are people dressed in vibrant masks and colorful costumes, carrying a cow bladder that has been inflated, dried, and painted in bright colors.
The vejigante is a demonic character meant to scare people, and the mask features sharp fangs and forward pointing horns. Using devil and demon masks during Carnival is a tradition that dates to 17th century Spain, when they were intended to scare people into going to church.