EL SALVADOR: Fireball festival held in honour of local town's patron saint

Record ID: 860738

  • Title: EL SALVADOR: Fireball festival held in honour of local town's patron saint
  • Date: 31st August 2003
  • Summary: (L!1) NEJAPA, EL SALVADOR (AUGUST 31, 2003) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GETTING READY FOR FIREBALL GAME VARIOUS OF PLAYERS PAINTING THEIR FACES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARIN ALFARO, PLAYER, SAYING: "The fireball game consists of of two teams that come together. One gathers here on the top, the other gathers at the bottom and the balls are ignited. Then, we have to throw them to one another. I think this can be traced back to a tradition that stems from a time when the volcano erupted, so we feel that same emotion. That's what the game is about." VARIOUS OF THE GAME GUNPOWDER BURNING
  • Embargoed: 15th September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEJAPA, EL SALVADOR
  • City:
  • Country: El Salvador
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA53XSC9FI8EJMU1FEENCYJC3NQ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: In El Salvador, residents have thrown fireballs at each other in honour of a local town's patron saint.
    At an El Salvador annual celebration in honor of a local saint on Sunday (August 31), some 200 young men participated in the tradition of throwing fireballs at each other. The custom in the town of Nejapa, 19 kilometers from from San Salvador, pays tribute to Saint Jeronimo. The celebration attracts hundreds of tourists each year.
    "The fireball game consists of of two teams that come together," player Arin Alfaro explained. "One gathers here on the top, the other gathers at the bottom and the balls are ignited. Then, we have to throw them to one another. I think this can be traced back to a tradition that stems from a time when the volcano erupted, so we feel that same emotion. That's what the game is about."
    The balls, made of rags and held together by wire, have been soaked in gasoline for three months prior to the event.
    As the crowd calls out, the men hurl the balls not only at each other, but also at members of the crowd.
    In the 11 years of this local tradition, no serious injuries have ever been reported.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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