Festival of Fire
in Santiago de Cuba
AFTER a week of popular jubilation
and the traditional burning of the devil in Santiago
de Cuba’s Alameda Park, the 33rd Festival of Fire
ended. It was dedicated this year to the people and
culture of Colombia’s Caribbean.
|
Representatives from countries
attending the 33rd Festival of Fire
take part in the Serpent Procession
in Santiago de Cuba.
Photos: Miguel Rubiera Jústiz (AIN) |
Facing Santiago Bay, visitors from
more than 20 participating countries gathered for
the closing ceremony in which fire consumed the
symbol of all evil and preparations began for the
2014 event, which will feature Suriname as the guest
country of honor.
As part of the final celebration, centrally located
Céspedes Park hosted the Parade of Fire, in which
the dances, drums and chants of those who maintain
popular traditions confirmed the vitality of the
Caribbean’s cultural legacy.
With Minister of Culture Rafael Bernal on hand,
representatives of Suriname were presented the Mpaka,
an ancient African ceremonial object and symbol of
the festival, customarily given to the coming year’s
featured country.
Over the course of seven days, Colombian artistic
performances and theoretical discussion reflected
the history and culture of the Caribbean region in
the north of this country, chosen as the 2013
honoree.
Among the most significant events of the festival
were the Bartolo campesino carnival; a tribute to
slave rebellions at the Cimarron Monument in the
community of El Cobre; the Ode to Yemayá, a
religious-magical ritual at Juan González beach and
the Gran Gagá, a celebration of Haitian origin.
A colloquium entitled ‘The Caribbean which unites us’
was one of the most important events held.
Participants reaffirmed the value of maintaining
communication as the foundation of unity and
integration in the Caribbean, a diverse and plural
region, which includes not only island countries,
but those whose shores are bathed by the sea’s
waters. (AIN/PL)
