# ADSactly Folklore:Traditional dances of Venezuela-II

<center>https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_600/https://www.ivenezuela.travel/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/burriquita.jpg
[link](https://www.ivenezuela.travel/baile-de-la-burriquita-folklore/)</center>

<div class="text-justify">In this second installment of the traditional dances of Venezuela, reference will be made to some very particular dances, outstanding for their extraordinary dress, for being picturesque and cheerful. Their staging is quite a party. Here are some of them:

<h3><b> "The Burriquita"</b></h3>

  When I was a little girl I was part of this dance, the "Burriquita" considered as one of the most important cultural manifestations of the country and its patrimony. A tradition adopted from the indigenous and African cultures when they came to our territory through colonization. Men, women and children participate in this dance. Every September 30th traditionally the burriquita and its dancers go out into the streets, a tradition that has remained since approximately 1928, in the same way it is celebrated at the end of December after Christmas Easter and it is also a tradition to celebrate the days of Carnival in several states of the country.

Some specialists in culture point out that this dance has influences of the "Dance of the heifers and the horses", practiced from the Middle Ages in Spain and that it was known in Venezuela in the beginnings of the colonization, it is necessary to emphasize that the first one in presenting this manifestation was the Zone of the East of the country and later it spreads to all Venezuela.

In October 2016, the official declaration of the Traditional Burras and Burriquitas of Venezuela as Cultural Heritage of the Nation was celebrated. Here is a sample of this dance performed by children and their teacher:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgxJtpdOsZc 

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[link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgxJtpdOsZc)

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<blockquote>
"The dance of the burriquita combines three genres: music, dance and theatre, because it is a pantomime. In addition to that, it has an eye-catching, unparalleled color, and each dancer gives it his or her grace.". Popular Cultors </blockquote>

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In the dance of the burriquita the protagonist is usually a man dressed as a woman, with a blouse and a colorful skirt, long braids and a hat, the man seems to be sitting in the burriquita and as the dance develops the character is making various movements imitating the jumps of a donkey while interacting with the audience, the staging and creativity of the dancer is fundamental.It is important to clarify that the music and choreography will depend on the region where the dance is performed.


<h3><b>"The Yare Dancing Devils"</b></h3>

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This is another well-known dance in Venezuela and declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2012. This religious festivity originates from San Francisco de Yare, Miranda state (Venezuela), where the Corpus Christi day carried out by the Catholic Church is faithfully celebrated.

In this Dance the Devils dance as they walk through the town in procession to the door of the church, prior to this act there was a vigil the night before accompanied by various songs and prayers.

Then the devils go to the cemetery where they perform a dance in honor of the deceased and ask permission to start the celebration. On their way to the church, once outside, the devils are prostrate on their knees while the parish priest of the shrine conducts the Corpus Christi Mass.
At the end of the Mass, the ecclesiastical commission comes out in procession, the devils present there retreat and then fall in surrender. In this act it is intended to represent the triumph of good over evil.
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<blockquote>"The fraternity of devils is divided into a hierarchical order, represented in their masks, where the number of horns of each mask represents a hierarchical order: the mask that has four horns represents the Great Devil, the mask that has three symbolizes the Second Foreman, Third Foreman  and, finally, the mask with two horns represents the Rasos or Promesero Devils.<br> Félix Piñerúa Monasterio
</blockquote>
It is important to note that the clothing used for this dance consists of colorful costumes mostly completely red, large masks, striking and grotesque appearance, likewise carry various decorations such as scapulars, rosaries, crosses, among others everything for them to keep away from evil spirits. 

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<center>http://www.balgres.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DIablosYare.jpg
[link](http://www.balgres.com/historia-de-los-diablos-danzantes-de-yare/)</center>

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<h3><b>"The Zaragozas" </b></h3>
In the town of Sanare state  Lara, Venezuela one of the most representative dances of the area, held every December 28th is the dance of  "Zaragozas", a colorful festivity that commemorates the Day of the Innocent Saints and evokes mothers going mad due to the pain of losing their children after the massacre ordered by King Herod.
The origin of this tradition is not known with exactitude although there are investigators who say that it dates from 200 years approximately, they also express that this custom originates from an indigenous agricultural tradition, but that after the evangelization, it was transformed into devotion to the Holy Innocents.

Without a doubt every December 28th is a date for the celebration or as many of its inhabitants call it the "collective madness", but in the same way a day to renew religiosity. Masks, loud bells, striking costumes are the protagonists and invade the streets of the town from early morning hours where all attendees go in procession to an altar decorated with lots of flowers, where is the Picture of the Holy Innocents whom they will worship, Afterwards, with the image in their hands, they go to the Church to celebrate the mass in the village of Sanare, which gives a formal start to the festival.

<blockquote> "Many of the people disguised as zaragozas fulfill promises granted in favor of  children, nephews and grandchildren"</blockquote>This is how Bernabé Alvarado, one of the Major Captains of this religious celebration in Sanare, expresses it. He also states that this celebration is characterized by paying promises, making heavy jokes such as false news, serving salty coffee, changing the time of the clock, among many others. I invite you to enjoy it:<br>

https://youtu.be/PY5C9Q1nscY <center> [link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY5C9Q1nscY)</center>

<h3><b>"The Tamunague"</b></h3>

<div class=text-justify>  Many of these cultural manifestations revolve around devotion to a saint, which indicates that popular religiosity prevails, the dance "The Tamunangue", is no exception, considered the main manifestation of culture and folkloric tradition of Lara state, held every June 13 in several towns, dedicating its dance to San Antonio de Padua.


 This cultural manifestation consists of several dances known as "Batalla", "the Bella", "Yiyivamos", "Juruminga", "Poco a poco", "Perrendenga", "Galerón" and "Seis figureao". It should be noted that the Tamunangue is considered the union of several cultures such as the indigenous, the Spanish as well as the African, and the Chibcha culture.
 
  Although there is no precise historical reference to the origin of Tamunangue according to some research, it is said that it dates back 400 years, supported by the writings of Ermila Troconis de Veracoechea in his book "History of El Tocuyo Colonial": 

<blockquote> "In 1609 was conformed the creation of the brotherhood of San Antonio de Padua, by the Reverend Fray Antonio de Alceza, this brotherhood had its headquarters in the Convent of San Francisco and was established as a brotherhood for morenos and slaves ..."</blockquote> 
  This indicates that the blacks who were brought to the American continent from Africa brought with them devotion to St. Anthony of Padua through his songs, rituals and dance. Already in the state Lara this devotion begins in the populations of Tocuyo and Curarigua through the Tamunangue or Sones in black, as it is also called.

It is important to note that the clothing used for the execution consists of a white blouse, colorful skirt and espadrilles for women, while men must wear light brown pants, white t-shirts, espadrilles and hat. In the staging of the dance, the grace, coquetry and gallantry of the dancers are the center of attention according to the song to be executed.</div>
Here is a sample of this dance:

https://youtu.be/SDuO82ZT6dw <center>[link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDuO82ZT6dw)</center>
See you in the third and last installment of the traditional dances of Venezuela.
By: luces


 Link Consulted:
[1](https://www.ivenezuela.travel/baile-de-la-burriquita-folklore/),[2](https://www.panorama.com.ve/somostradicion/Ahi-viene-la-burriquita-20181129-0038.html),[3](https://albaciudad.org/2015/12/celebracion-de-la-zaragoza-evoca-en-lara-dia-de-los-inocentes-con-bailes-y-trajes-de-colores/),[4](http://www.ucla.edu.ve/secretaria/sanantonio/tamunangue.htm)


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