The historiantes from Huertas: The dance of Moors and Christians (danza de Moros y Cristianos)

Abstract

This ethnographic article introduces the bicentennial tradition of the dance of Moors and Christians (danza de Moros y Cristianos), from the group Los Historiantes in Cantón las Huertas, city of Ilobasco, department of Cabañas, El Salvador. The study was conducted during 2019, and the initial exploratory visits took place in June; one of the findings during these visits was the fact that the group of historiantes had been inactive for 15 years. When the study concluded in December, the reactivation of the group had been achieved thanks to the collaboration of 6 surviving members who learned about this tradition via direct oral tradition. At present, they are in charge of transmitting this tradition to a fifth generation of historiantes in said cantón (small countryside town).