A POEM A DAY - CORREFOC




'Correfoc' means run with fire and it is a traditional event at Fiestas in this area of Spain. All kind of fireworks are loved here, the traditional displays have been less popular in recent years due to the risk of fire on the hills. 

The 'mascleta' is a 10 minute long session of rhythmically planned fire crackers, with the bangs increasingly loud and explosive. Our village holds an event called the 'corda' where a rope of rockets is hung down the middle of the dark street at 3 am. Wrapped and protected people enter the caged area, pulling down the rockets, firing them into the air or whizzing them down the street. I hear the noise from the safety of the house and even the screeches of the people, hiss of the rocket and thump of feet is a little scary. I am always glad to hear the injuries are minor.

The 'Correfoc' is perhaps the favourite event in our village, enjoyed by young and old.  Sadly I have to stay shut indoors due to the smoke so have only experienced the beginning of the show. The village lights are turned out, the streets in darkness, the drums start and the firework 'actors' light up the whirring, sparkling displays which wind around the village streets to an explosive display of fire wheels at the finale.  People dance underneath the sparks, behind the drums, a hypnotic, pagan, primal feel to the throbbing sounds and  glittering fire.  


Thanks to Lesley Howe for her photograph from a previous year's 'Correfoc'. 



© 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved. 


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