Melvin González Rojas (Kamel), a member of the Boruca community and of the Heritage Commission of these indigenous people commented: "Our community has many years to preserve this legacy that our grandparents left us, so it is up to us young people to pass it on to the new generations.

This declaration comes to reinforce the work we are doing, to give us strength at opportune moments, because at this moment the Dance of the Devils undergoes an important cultural change because our older members are no longer there, we have lost them all in the last two or three years; there are already successors who until this year will take the baton of this practice as Elder Devils or leaders who undertake the tradition, so this declaration allows us to protect our culture, tradition, meals, dances and safeguard our immaterial and spiritual practices.”

The history of the Borucan ‘Diablito’ masks began over 500 hundred years ago when created with the intent to scare the unwelcomed invaders, the Spanish conquistadors. The Borucan people were triumphant. Traditionally, the village of Boruca celebrates its victory through what they call the “Danza de Los Diablitos” from December 30 to January 2. 

In Curré, on the banks of the Terraba River, the dances are celebrated a month later, usually at the end of January. Stay tuned!