The first day of exaltation of the masks integrated in the Federation of Masquerade Associations of the Province of Zamora (MascaraZA) was held in San Vicente de la Cabeza, a municipality in the region of Aliste in the province of Zamora, on 19 October.
The president of MascaraZA, José Javier Sánchez Hernández, thanked the work of MASKS for giving value to local artisans and mask makers on a day that brought together sixteen communities that celebrate rites with masks, artisans (among them Miguel Elisardo Bueno, a MASKS collaborator), entrepreneurs (among them David Genicio and Pifa Montgomeri, MASKS collaborators), musicians Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza, Luis Antonio Pedraza and Luis Antonio Pedraza, among others, the musician Luis Antonio Pedraza (MASKS collaborator), the folk ensemble Mayalde and the Grupo de Baile Aulas de Música de Aliste y Trás-os-Montes, journalists such as Celedonio Pérez, numerous professional photographers, participants of masquerades from other communities, local and provincial authorities and a large audience who enjoyed the explanation that the Zamoran groups gave of their customs.
The day took place in a festive atmosphere. MascaraZA asked our principal investigator, Professor Pilar Panero, to say a few words. She thanked the willingness that MascaraZA Federation has always shown to collaborate with the project and highlighted several issues regarding the day that she found remarkable. The first was to congratulate them for creating a group that is not closed, but open to new incorporations that work for the mask with enthusiasm. Secondly, the importance of a federation that facilitates the activities and the diffusion of small groups without many means that benefit from the company of more popular masks. Thirdly, the beautiful diffusion of the mask culture in a transversal and intergenerational way. And finally, the good idea of holding this meeting in a village, the habitat of these celebrations.
Likewise, Pilar Panero acknowledged a splendid organisation made with the collaboration of the Town Council of San Vicente de la Cabeza, the Association El Atenazador presided by Adrián Blanco and MascaraZA. Without many hands, heads and hearts, and with limited resources, it would have been very difficult to organise such a complete day. He closed his presentation by encouraging those present to love their masks and to avoid ethnocentric considerations, because the Zamoran masquerades are very important, but they are a pebble in the great river that is tradition. The masks, as was felt on the day, are greater inserted in a global culture of the mask.
Photos by Chuchi Guerra and Carlos Blanco Link to the gala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSnVSLDVtcw
