“Festival pyrotechnics” in the Casa dels Entremesos

An exhibition relating to fire as an element in popular festivals began on the 20th of June and can be seen until the 4th of August. The exhibition, a coproduction of the Museu Etnològic de Barcelona and the Reus Town Council, goes by the title Pirotècnia de festa (Festival pyrotechnics) and is on show in the Casa dels Entremesos in the Sant Pere area of the district of Ciutat Vella. Entry is free of charge.

Due to its destructive capacity and aggressive nature, fire has traditionally had negative connotations. Then again, and perhaps because of its almost magical visual nature, since time immemorial it has been used in all types of rites and festivities, often pagan in character, where fire is a representation of hell itself.

The presence of fire in festivals in our country is the basis of the exhibition which, naturally, includes Sant Joan, but also fireworks displays, weapons, that in many celebrations are used to fire into the air, devil-related festivals, correfocs (literally, fire-runs), beasts of fire (the dragon, among others), festival pyrotechnics from Valencia, and much more.