Catholic festival in surf mecca
Trip Start
Oct 10, 2006
1
9
20
Trip End
Oct 10, 2007
Montanita,
Ecuador
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The final night of our stay in Montanita we witness an interesting firework display near our hostal and directly outside the church. Every night the locals have been celebrating some religious event and this is the climax. There is a band going non-stop playing songs that sound similar to the very successful Cuban outfit Buena Vista Social Club, but far less accomplished and without the range of instruments and vocals. We wait for a good couple of hours for the promised fireworks which look as though they are attached to two tall towers surrounding the front of the church. Me and jb take up a good position by a wall right in between and close to the two towers, I am sat on the end of the wall and jb is standing beside. Not long before the fireworks begin we are joined by Ghislaine, an Australian girl we met in Canoa. It is past midnight and the anticipation has built for a good few hours, all the locals are out including kids of all ages running round with excitement.
Finally, a tall fella appears with a bull with fireworks attached over his head. I know what to expect, I have seen a similar thing at a summer festival in San Sebastian in northern Spain whilst attending a Spanish school prior to this trip. The bull is lit and the fella runs back and forth towards different sections of the crowd spraying sparks everywhere. However, unlike the ones in Spain, this bull actually fires missiles too! A couple shoot of towards the church and the crowd penned in by a small wall, jump and scream, trying to avoid third degree burns!
The next bull arrives and the crowd is wise, taking whatever available shelter when the bull comes near. I have realised that I am in the best position to view the exciting and amusing action unfolding, but also the most vulnerable. I am perched on the end of a wall with only my hands to protect my face and a large crowd sheltering behind me including jb and Ghislaine! Luckily, none of the many missiles from the bulls come our way and emboldened by this escape and the few beers I have had, I stay put for the next round of bright lights and frights.
There is a delay before the towers are lit and the crowd mills around me again, a few locals catch my eye with a smile of gratitude after using my body as shelter, although the majority are giving me a look saying - you are a crazy gringo! The smaller tower is lit first and involves a number of wheels spinning round shooting sparks out far and wide, I am still closest to the action but dont feel in any danger. The big tower is lit and has three levels of spinning wheels and a platform on the top containing more explosive action. It is only when the top goes off I can feel the heat on my face and chunks of flaming debris flying down towards me, I abandon my position of bravery/stupidity and scurry back into the crowd unharmed.
The next day, the religious celebrations are still going. The band is still playing on the back of a big truck and together with a large group of locals are doing laps of the local part of the town (where our hostel is). There is much horn beeping, cheering and singing. I begin to wonder how much more popular the Catholic church would be in England if it took on board this style of celebrating a religious occasion. Getting the whole community involved in a huge street party with music and fireworks. I recall countless Sundays in church myself as a kid wondering why it all had to be so sombre, dull and boring. If any cyber savvy Archbishops are reading this, you have missed a trick, get onto it pronto and boost your congregations!
