The story
Festival de Lechones de Santiago in Santiago de los Caballeros
The lechones, a historic character type within Santiago de los Caballeros's February carnival, were traditionally tasked with maintaining crowd order along the parade route using inflated bladders or whips, distinguishing them from the city's more purely performative comparsa groups like Fantasia Egipcia and Roba la Gallina.
The lechones, a historic character type within Santiago de los Caballeros's February carnival, were traditionally tasked with a functional role distinct from purely decorative costumed characters: maintaining order along the parade route, historically using inflated bladders or whips to keep spectators at a safe distance from the passing comparsa groups and floats.