Diablete Costume to Become Part of Texas’ Historic Alamo Museum

A traditional Diablete costume will soon be displayed at The Alamo Museum in San Antonio, Texas, highlighting the island’s rich cultural heritage and its historic links with the Canary Islands.

The handcrafted costume will form part of the museum’s exhibition dedicated to the Canary Islanders who founded San Antonio in 1731, reflecting the long-standing relationship between the archipelago and the American city.

The initiative is one of several cultural exchanges developed through the growing partnership between Lanzarote and San Antonio ahead of the city’s 300th anniversary celebrations in 2031.

Betancort described the project as an important opportunity to promote Lanzarote’s traditions internationally.

“The Diabletes are one of the strongest symbols of our identity. Displaying this costume at The Alamo Museum allows a unique part of Lanzarote’s heritage to reach an international audience while reinforcing the historic ties between the Canary Islands and Texas,” he said.

Víctor Padrón welcomed the collaboration, saying the association was honoured to see one of Lanzarote’s most distinctive traditions recognised in a museum of international significance.

“We are proud that Los Diabletes will represent Lanzarote in a museum that celebrates the Canarian legacy in the Americas and helps preserve an important part of our shared history,” he said.

A Tradition Dating Back More Than 600 Years

Los Diabletes de Teguise are considered the oldest carnival figure in the Canary Islands and remain unique to the former capital of Lanzarote. Their origins are believed to trace back to ritual dances performed by the Mahos, the island’s indigenous inhabitants, before evolving over centuries into one of Lanzarote’s most recognisable cultural symbols.

The costume destined for Texas was handcrafted using the association’s traditional methods. Created from beige muslin and hand-painted in red and black, it includes the distinctive clay mask decorated in red, black and white, leather straps fitted with bells, and the traditional goatskin pouch.

The piece was produced by Lanzarote tailor Yeray Martín García, who will also assist with the gradual renewal of the association’s costumes.

The recognition follows another major milestone for the group. In 2024, Los Diabletes de Teguise were awarded the Canary Islands Gold Medal, the regional government’s highest distinction, in recognition of their longstanding contribution to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Canary Islands.