Moors and Christians Dance El Torito Pinto dance or The Piebald Bull dance is

a very popular tradition with many variations, held

There are approximately 33 representation of the during the patronage festivals in different towns of
dance. This dance was used to convert the natives to El Salvador. The dance –in some occasions includes
the Catholicism during the Spanish colony times. In singing- is a representation of the Spanish bull-
the dances the good is represented by the Christians fights. The dance group is composed by men and
and the bad by the Moors. The dance remembers the women, dressed in bright colorful attires and hats
battles of reconquest of Spain from the Muslin. decorated with fringes and flowers. The Bull is rep-
The arrival of the Spanish to America created a hy- resented by a dancer wearing a wooden structure
brid culture where the native element was introduced attached to his hips with a bull head in one end
to the Spanish arguments; a clear example was the (Other variations could include fireworks secured to
use of pito (a native flute) and the drums in the per- the structure). El Torito Pinto dances in the middle
formance of the dance. of a circle formed by all the dancers. Every dancer
carries a red handkerchief used to incite the bull
For this dance is necessary 14 men divided in groups
and this at the same time shows its bravery with
of 7: The Moors and The Christians. Their garments
his peculiar dance. 
are rich in detail; everyone wears a tunic and a cape.
The moors are distinguished by the helmets decorated
with animal shapes on top and antique coins. The
Christians wear crowns decorated with flowers. Both
groups carry Machetes playing the role of medieval
swords. The histories are directed by the “ensayador”
or rehearser; an elder who has verbally received all of
the information from his ancestors.

Between the most popular dance representations we

find:

Ferdinand VII of Spain

The Two Crowns of Rome
Heaven’s Renegade
Tradi on plays a very important role in the life of  The Talcigüines Nahuat for “Devils” is a theatrical  Bolas de fuego (bal
the Salvadoreans. Talk about tradi ons in El Salva- play that takes place every year to mark the begin- town of Nejapa 20 
dor is a very tough topic due to the amount of ritu- ning of the Passover week, on the streets of Tex- Salvador. Nejapa, N
als celebrated in different parts of the country.   istepeque, Santa Ana, 84 km west of the capital city.  that literaly translat
Although the country is the smallest in this con - In this celebra on, 19 selected Faithful Chris ans,  name makes refere
nent (About 8,124 sq. mi) is rich in tradi ons with  masked, dressed in red tunics and armed with whips  ons that the town
more than 300 celebra ons a year.  made out of leather,  go out on the streets lashing  from “El Playon Vol
with their whips anyone who crosses their path.  huge pieces of lava 
More than 52% of the popula on is considered  Every whip represents the cleansing of the whipped  es into the air destr
catholic; this makes the tradi ons revolve around  spectator’s sins. Meanwhile Jesus walks around the  people to rese le t
their beliefs. A clear example of the catholic influ- town for 3 hours represen ng the 3 hours that Jesus  31st in Nejapa their 
ence in the country is its own name which trans- was Crucified. On every corner the Talcigüines fight  “bolas de fuego” fig
lates as “The Savior” and takes the transfigured  Jesus, whipping the ground three  mes in the shape  dozens of young me
Jesus as its patron saint.  of a cross, followed by going around him and re- cendiary missiles m
pea ng the whipping ac on for 9 more  mes, this  dipped in gasoline. 
In this brief informa onal pamphlet we are just 
represen ng a tempta on. The celebra on ends in  phenomenon, for t
going to focus on the most popular tradi ons: Los 
front of the town church where Jesus fight the  remains in the mem
Talcigüines (The devils), Las Bolas de Fuego (Balls of 
Talcigüines with a crucifix and a hand bell. The dev-
Fire), Danza de Moros y Cris anos (The Moors and 
ils fall to the ground and Jesus walks over them, 
Chris ans Dance) and Danza del Torito Pinto (The 
finalizing the devil’s rendi on facing them and 
Piebald Bull Dance).  
stroking the hand bell  vigorously making them run 
hiding into the church.