The small communities along the central coastal region of Venezuela have a special way to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, an annual Roman Catholic holiday commemorating the presence of Christ in the Sacrament.

Groups of adults, young men and children disguised as masked devils dance backwards in penitence as an official of the Catholic Church carries out the Blessed Sacrament. String and percussion instruments provide musical accompaniment, and worshippers carry maracas to ward off evil spirits.

At the climax of the celebration, the devils surrender to the Sacrament, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The dancers, or promeseros (promise-keepers) are lifelong members of a confraternity that transmits the historical memory and ancestral traditions. Each confraternity crafts its devil masks, adorning them with crosses, scapulars, and blessed palm leaves. Dancers also wear bells, handkerchiefs, and strips of ribbon for protection from evil spirits.

Women oversee the spiritual preparation of children, organize the stages of the ritual, prepare food, provide support for the dances, and raise altars along the procession route; in recent years, some communities have begun to welcome them as dancers. The practice is steeped in creativity, organization, and faith and promotes a strong sense of communal and cultural identity.

According to ich.unesco.org; en.wikipedia