The Fire Festival is a holiday that was originally conceived as a small theatrical performance, but eventually turned into a large-scale weekly entertainment event with performances by musicians, artists, magicians and dancers. The emphasis was placed not only on presenting to the guests of the island the identity and traditions of the inhabitants of the Caribbean, but also on its inherent zest. She began to interweave the original idea with elements of a fire show, dangerous and exciting performances of dancers and fire casters.
Fiesta del Fuego, "Festival of Lights" or "Festival of Fire" is considered one of the most beautiful and large-scale events, comparable, perhaps, only to the carnival in Brazil. The weekly celebration becomes the main event of the Antilles, transforming the city of Santriago de Cuba from July 3 to 9 into a huge stage for music, dance and carnival processions, concerts, parties, master classes, exhibitions, performances by readers and, of course, fire show. Trays with delicacies of local and visiting chefs are bursting with an abundance of treats, and every day of the holiday ends with a noisy and beautiful fireworks.
Visitors to the island can take part in any procession, street performance or flash mob for free. This also applies to treats and drinks.
The festival has been held on the island since 1981; it is supervised by the Cultural Center "Karaibsky House" and the local Ministry of Culture. Their duties include not only the preparation and conduct of the "Festival of Fire", but also the observance of the cultural, historical, artistic and religious aspects inherent in the inhabitants of Cuba and the entire Caribbean.
The venue was not chosen by chance: Santiago de Cuba was not only a city with a comfortable mild climate, but also during the years of the revolution was the main stronghold of Fidel Castro and his people.
In the week of Fiesta del Fuego, artists, actors, magicians, poets, musicians from all over the world come to the island to see firsthand the ritual actions marking the opening and closing of the holiday, as well as to take part in the largest fiery procession.
The Festival of Lights attracts with performances of fakirs, fire charmers, jugglers with fire objects and dancers accompanied by fiery Latin American songs and drinking the popular Cuban drink - rum. Thanks to numerous scenes in different parts of the city, Santiago de Cuba does not fall asleep even at night and becomes an attractive place for walking at any time of the day.
On the first day of the "Festival of Fire", the central event is the official opening, which begins with the ritual of greeting Nzambi, the supreme deity of the magic religion with African roots, Palo Monte, widespread in Cuba. And only after that, solemn processions of dancers, musicians and fakirs take to the streets.
The end of the festival also takes place with the observance of the ritual action: a stuffed "devil" is burned, and the ashes are fluttered over the sea. Local residents consider this a good sign for all the participants of the “Festival of Lights”.
Simultaneously with the Fiesta del Fuego in Guantanamo, the Festival of Caribbean Culture is held, created to unite the fraternal peoples and nations of the Antilles. The main emphasis there is on the identity, cultural and historical heritage of the inhabitants of the Caribbean.
