Balls of Fire - Bolas de Fuego

Festival Location: Nejapa, El Salvador

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Festivals, Historical Festivals

Balls of Fire - Bolas de Fuego Media:

by © Paul Dodson 2009

Great balls of fire! Every August 31st in the El Salvador city of Nejapa, youths with painted faces take to the street to hurl fireballs at each other in a scene that the casual passer-by could be forgiven for interpreting as the early stages of a riot.

But those in the know will tell you the mayhem at hand is a ritual - Balls of Fire (or Bolas de Fuego in local lingo) - in honour of a violent volcanic eruption that took place in 1917.

Personally I'd prefer to take part in an ironic water fight, but that's just me.

Balls of Fire - When, Where and More Info Please

When: August 31st annually

Where: The city of Nejapa, El Salvador

More Info Please: For more info check out ElSalvador.com.

Balls of Fire - Bolas de Fuego Video

Light on your feet with a sense of adventure? Then Nejapa, El Salvador come August 31st may be the spot for you. Dodge fireballs with the locals in comemoration of a nearby volcano blowing its lid in 1917, in an event known appropriately as Balls of Fire.