Every year on August 31st, the little town of Nejapa, just outside of San Salvador organizes the Fireball Festival (Bolas de Fuego).
This festival started 90 years ago to commemorate the eruption of a nearby volcano, balls of cloth wrapped with wire are soaked in kerosene during the two months before the festival.
On the 31st, two teams dress up in costume – skeletons painted on clothing, “war-paint” – don gardening gloves and fight fire with fire, throwing the burning balls at each other and the audience who line the streets.
One of the most organized festivals in El Salvador, emergency medics are on hand, police keep order and guests have a chance to hold the balls of fire before and after the fight. Usually, music follows the fight and a good time is had by all!
El Salvador takes the cake with its bizarre and unusual ritual of throwing palm-sized fireballs of kerosene at the opposing team. In addition, locals throw ‘fireballs’ at one another.
Though this dangerous, yet planned, firefight has taken place for over a decade now without any rules or restrictions, few serious injuries have been reported.
The festival has even been given a religious slant by the church, who claims that the volcanic eruption was the embodiment of the local Christian saint, Saint Jeronimo, who was driving the devil from the town with fireballs.
Should this festival be allowed to continue despite the obvious risks surrounding it? Where should authorities draw the line between upholding tradition and potentially antisocial behavior?
Is it irresponsible of the church to endorse such reckless behavior in a country where religion appears to be hardwired into its citizens’ consciousness?
While these questions remain unanswered, the citizens of small-town Nejapa will continue to hold their not-so-traditional custom of fireball-throwing in remembrance of the volcano that once changed their world.
