Festival de las Máscaras de Hatillo, Puerto Rico 

The Festival de las Máscaras de Hatillo is one of the most popular town events in Puerto Rico, particularly during the Christmas season. Festival de las Máscaras de Hatillo, or Hatillo Mask Festival, is one of Puerto Rico’s most exciting yearly celebrations, held on December 28th every year. On this day, Puerto Rico remembers Da de Los Santos Inocentes, a day devoted to young boys under the age of three who were slaughtered by King Herod’s soldiers while searching for baby Jesus. As a result, the first Christian martyrs were these helpless children. Since 1823, the town of Hatillo, located on Puerto Rico’s northern coast, has celebrated this event. It quickly grew into a big celebration of wit and deception, like April Fools in Europe. Thousands of people dress up in the most spectacular costumes and masks to march through the streets alongside extravagant floats and lavishly painted automobiles.

The procession, which includes women, men, and children costumed as traditional Puerto Rican folklore costumes, proceeds to the beat of the music. Throughout the day, people joke around, perform pranks, drink, and dance. Hatillo’s town center is transformed into a massive theatre or circus. Following the procession, everyone congregates in the city’s central plaza for a large street celebration complete with food and activities. The festival is part of the cultural tradition that these settlers brought to Puerto Rico, as it originated in the Canary Islands. The day also includes craftsmen, music, traditional dishes, and activities for the whole family, in addition to the parades and masks. Expect large people in Hatillo’s downtown area because this is an incredibly popular festival on the island.