If the father consented, the boy would then visit the girl at prescribed hours under the watchful eyes of a chaperone.

María Marta's father shared this historical anecote with me while we watched this social ritual take place in the small town of Santa Bárbara in the province of Heredia, during our chaperoned first date. While I was never able to capture the fancy of María Marta, I have never lost my affection for El Cencerro.

Richard Jenssen

February 1999