Venezuelans celebrate the Festival de los Diablos Danzantes (Dancing Devils) in San Francisco de Yare, Venezuela on June 11, 2009. The festival has been held annually since 1742, and is famous for being one of Venezuela's most important and most colorful cultural events. To celebrate, thousands of Venezuelans clad in red devil costumes and brightly painted papier-mache masks take to the streets dancing to the rhythm of drumbeats and maracas. The festival, always held on Corpus Christi (the 60th day after Easter) manifests the struggle between good and evil, after spending hours dancing, the devils kneel in front of the historic Church of San Francisco, and a local catholic bishop blesses them, signifying the devils' submission and the triumph of good.  Locals also believe the ritual brings them prosperity and protection from misfortune.
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