Yaqui people, Sonora

17 inches, sheep hide, wood, cardboard, paint

A helmet-style mask that fits over the dancer’s head. They are often made by the dancer himself and portray such things as animals, old men and lewd women. The performances of the Chapayeka (also called chapokobam, fariseos or judios) increase in intensity during Holy Week when the dancers participate in the community religious processions, acting as clowns and making fun of the liturgical activities.

The Yaquis believe that through the use of these masks and mimicking evil behavior, that somehow they can collect the evil within the community. The masks are then burned at the climax, and evil is thereby banished for another year. Yaquis are forbidden to own or sell these masks, or replicas thereof, after the Easter season has passed. To do so invites calamity, according to their beliefs.

Masks that have been actually used in the rituals, or danced, are very difficult to find and consequently expensive. This mask has not been danced, but was made by Yaqui Indian carvers and is identical to those being used.