Cuba's Crazy Fireworks Festival (Part 1)

In late December, the tiny Cuban town of Remedios splits in half and prepares for war. They make thousands of pounds of homemade fireworks, build floats, and kick off the craziest street carnival on the island.
A secret factory has been churning out “uncountable” numbers of fireworks and the whole town is either stitching costumes for the floats or dying light bulbs for the light walls. It’s the biggest Christmas festival in Cuba and the citizens of Remedios put their hearts and souls into it.
As the story goes, way back in 1820 a young priest was frustrated by the lack of attendance at his Christmas mass so he told the village children to go out into the streets and bang pots and pans to attract people to church. Eventually the town substituted fireworks and a tradition was born.
• Do NOT eat the world’s worst spaghetti! Try the whole pig (lechon) instead.
• Rides are a penny apiece!
• Arrive a week early, pick a side, and help them prepare. They may even let you build some fireworks!
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Category: Travel

[@DaveJulianUTube]

Bravo Karin! This coverage of Parrandasis the best. Not easy conditions to shoot in. BTW, how's your hearing?

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you so much, David! You made my day! You must have some film making experience - most people don't think about the nuts and bolts of shooting a scene. Surprisingly it wasn't that noisy, but halfway through all that smoke and debris clogged up my camera for five frantic minutes...