Areito

/ɑreɪˈtoʊ/ noun

Definition

A ceremonial song or dance of the Taíno people of the Caribbean, often performed at gatherings and festivals.

Etymology

From Taíno (Arawakan language of the Caribbean), the word directly reflects the indigenous cultural practices of pre-Columbian Caribbean islands.

Kelly Says

The areito represents one of the few preserved glimpses into Taíno culture before European contact—these collective dances were so important that early Spanish chroniclers documented them, giving us a window into a lost civilization.

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