The Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of Cotuí, the oldest in America

To the sounds of sticks, drums and salves, hundreds of Cotuí residents and those from other towns set out very early in the morning to participate in the religious procession that is considered the oldest in America: the Cofradía del Espíritu Santo de Cotuí , a tradition with 500 years of history .

Some take candles , saints, pictures, some carry handkerchiefs and others grab a bottle of alcohol for the procession .

Dressed mostly in white and red, faith , petitions , thanksgiving, and laments come together in this walk that exceeds six kilometers at the pace of the parishioners.

• Since 1533 to date, the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of Cotuí , the oldest in America, has been carried out as a legacy of past and present generations.

This 2025 takes place today, Saturday, June 7 , in the main municipality of Cotuí , Sánchez Ramírez province, as an act of faith and hope.

The journey of faith and culture

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The route begins on Manuel Antonio Reyes Street in La Gallera and continues around the corner of Enriquillo Street toward the El Tamarindo neighborhood, where another brotherhood is located. Then, they head down 27 de Febrero Avenue, heading toward the El Hato sector . Among other streets, they turn onto Hostos, María Trinidad Sánchez, and Padre Billini streets until they reach Manuel Antonio Reyes Street again, where they started.

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Andy Castillo Rivas , cultural manager and provincial director of the Ministry of Culture, explains to Diario Libre that the Brotherhood takes place on a Saturday, the day before Pentecost Sunday . This varies depending on the Christian calendar .

"This festival takes place 50 days after Passover and concludes the Easter season . It is celebrated in both the Christian and Jewish religions. Musicians play drums and cymbals, sing salves, and recited a few poems," he explains.

The carnival-goer also adds that from the morning hours the members of the brotherhood (people who belong to a brotherhood) begin to arrive first and both men and women help to give the final touches so that the procession leaves at two in the afternoon .

• This year it is dedicated to Santiago Almonte ( Chago ) and Inocencia Matías ( Cenza ), the two oldest active members .

Due to its cultural significance , the collective that includes guilds such as the Cofradía Foundation , led by Roldán Mármol, is promoting the religious celebration to be declared intangible heritage by UNESCO .

"We are seeking recognition of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, as it is the oldest brotherhood in the Americas. There is data dating back to 1531." Andy Castillo Rivas, Cultural Manager

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The brotherhood has not remained an oral identity of a town; it has also been documented in the books " Cotuí , town, carnival, brotherhood and sticks: an ethnohistorical study " by José G. Guerrero; "Sánchez Ramírez, between wealth and poverty" by Juan Ricardo Hernández Polanco and "The improved town of Cotuy" by Francisco A. Rincón.

In music , the folklorist, researcher and artist Roldán Mármol released in 2025 the song "Ya llega" ft. Chago, a musical and audiovisual project that comes as a result of the recording of the Hymn of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of Cotuí.

"'Ya llega' is an emblematic song that honors our roots, our culture , and the living identity of Cotuí . It was recorded last year at the Cofradía Estudio with the commitment to preserving and exalting the essence of our tradition . Since then, we have continued to respectfully document every detail of this great cultural celebration , and today we have in our hands an audiovisual product that pays tribute to a whole story that deserves to be told and celebrated," Roldán highlights.

Although less present than adults and seniors, Cotuisan cultural manager Andy Castillo Rivas indicates that young people are mainly integrating to play instruments such as palos and güira , but few are encouraged to sing.

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The Dove of the Holy Spirit of Cotuí

Many parishioners bring offerings , others make requests and keep promises . At the center, towering above them all, is the Dove of the Holy Spirit, held vehemently by a member of the brotherhood with a steady gaze.

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It is made of pure 925 silver and bears the symbolism of the dove of the Flood . Originally, the piece had three gold stars, a diamond eye, and a ruby ​​eye, but these are now lost.

Andy Castillo Rivas tells that, according to local history , the dove was lost for 15 days. When the river receded, they went out to search for her on a sunny day. A flash of light from her eye helped her find her.

"With this encounter, the brothers then held another celebration because the Dove could be found, and they spent a week celebrating that glorious encounter," he says.

The basket she is placed in is made of wicker lined with white cloth and represents her nest , her home, where the flight of the messenger of the Holy Spirit begins. It is also a symbol of peace .

• Anyone who is 100% devoted will place the dove on their head on the day of the brotherhood so that their prayers are fulfilled .

Professor and historian José Guerrero has written a book about the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit and reaffirms its importance, emphasizing that this celebration is fully identified with African and Spanish culture .

Guerrero's book details that the celebration of the Holy Spirit is organized by different people ( cofrades ) who work in groups called brotherhoods or sisterhoods .

In Cotuí these groups operate both in the city and in the countryside, one of the communities with the largest number of brotherhoods is the El Hato section , a place of importance for this magical-religious celebration , because here the image of the Holy Spirit is kept in the house of a member, while the so-called "king" lives in the La Gallera neighborhood and the golden dove is kept in his house.

According to belief, the dove is a vehicle for transmitting the great power of the Holy Spirit , and it has been declared that "it can perform miracles."

While walking, the groups play palos and atabales , which consist of two percussion instruments: a wide stick called the palo mayor and a narrow one called the "adulón" or "alcahuete" ; each has a different sound.

They are made from a hollow tree trunk with a cowhide head on one end, and are played at an angle so that the sound comes out through the hollow below. These are complemented by the sound of the güira . The festival usually ends in a member's hut.

Cotuí is tradition , and this festival is proof of its deep-rooted cultural and religious identity, so often expressed through its award-winning carnival, its music, and its faith.

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