Balls of fire light up sky in El Salvador festival [View all]
September 1, 2022
7:46 PM CDT
Last Updated a day ago
Reuters
1 minute read
- video at link -
Sept 1 (Reuters) - Men with painted faces and masks pelted each other with rags drenched in gasoline and rolled into tight flaming balls, as the town of Nejapa in El Salvador celebrated its annual fireball festival.
The festival commemorates a volcanic eruption in 1658 that forced residents to abandon the small town, which is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of San Salvador.
The tradition may have its roots in a local legend that the town's patron saint San Jeronimo was praying when the devil threw fireballs to distract him, said Jorge Escamilla, the mayor of Nejapa.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/balls-fire-light-up-sky-el-salvador-festival-2022-09-01/
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