Puerto Rico is getting ready for the Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol [the Feasts of St. James] in Loíza Aldea (the actual saint day is July 25), Puerto Rico. Loiza Aldea’s Fiestas de Santiago have become renowned for their celebration of the island’s African heritage. A main feature of the Loíza festivities are the processions held on three consecutive days, the processions for Santiago of the Men, Santiago of the Women, and Santiago of the Children, in which one can experience a blend of folk and religious ceremonies, and myriad costumes, colorful masks, floats, drumming, and bomba and plena dancing. [See previous post July in Loíza Aldea: Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol.]

Part of the festivities every year, also includes a bomba drumming party at the house of Loíza’s traditional mask-makers, drummers, dancers [and over-all creative members] of the Ayala family on the last day of the feast. [The Ayala family is also well-known for their folkloric group, Ballet Folklórico Hermanos Ayala, created in 1959.] This event, held in their batey [front yard], is a fitting culmination to the Fiestas.

See people joining in the dancing at an Ayala bomba session here:

For more information on this spectacular drumming session/party, you may call (787) 564-6403.

For more information on the Santiago Apóstol festivities, see https://repeatingislands.com/2009/06/23/july-in-loiza-aldea-fiestas-de-santiago-apostol/