The San Pedro Parranda
Every June 29th, residents of two small towns in Venezuela, Guarenas and Guatire, celebrate the San Pedro Parranda. Festivities include dozens of men dressed in traditional costumes with their faces painted black, tap dancing in the street and acting out theatre skits including the following personages: el Abanderado, San Pedro, el Cargador, María Ignacia, los Tucusitos, los Sampedreños Danzantes, La Diabla, el Sampedreñito and the...
more »The San Pedro Parranda
Every June 29th, residents of two small towns in Venezuela, Guarenas and Guatire, celebrate the San Pedro Parranda. Festivities include dozens of men dressed in traditional costumes with their faces painted black, tap dancing in the street and acting out theatre skits including the following personages: el Abanderado, San Pedro, el Cargador, María Ignacia, los Tucusitos, los Sampedreños Danzantes, La Diabla, el Sampedreñito and the Músicos-Cantores (musicians and singers).
Popular history says that this celebration originated in the XIX century, with a black slave forced to work in the sugarcane fields named Maria Ignacia. Folklore says that Maria had a sick daughter, whom San Pedro (Saint Peter) cured of her ailments. With her daughter returned to health, Maria began the tradition af singing and dancing throughout the town, as her way of paying homage to the saint for healing her daughter.
Folklore says that Maria repeated the ritual annually, and after her death, her husband continued it in her honor. For this reason, every year a man from Guatire or Guarenas dresses in women's clothing in the 'disguise' of being Maria Ignacia. The celebration begins on July 28th with songs and dances until midnight. On July 29th, a Catholic mass is held in honor of San Pedro, then townsmen lead a procession throughout the town carrying an image of the Saint, while the Sampedreños sing songs and tap dance in rhythm to instruments including the cuatro, maraca and a round drum.
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