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Tultepec Celebrates Traditional Fireworks Festival with Giant Paper-Mache Bulls

The annual event in Tultepec, Mexico, honors Saint John of God and showcases the town's rich pyrotechnic heritage, despite past tragedies.

People dance and dodge a giant paper-mache bull stuffed with fireworks as roman candles and bottle rockets shower them with sparks, during the annual festival honoring Saint John of God, in Tultepec, Mexico, Friday, March 8, 2024. The celebration, now its 35th year, pays homage to the patron saint of the poor and sick, St. John of God, who the fireworks' producers view as a protective figure. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Overview

  • Every year in the first week of March, Tultepec, Mexico, comes alive with its traditional fireworks festival, featuring hundreds of giant paper-mache bulls filled with fireworks.
  • The festival, now in its 35th year, pays homage to Saint John of God, the patron saint of the poor and sick, and is a vital part of the town's economy.
  • In a change from previous years, the nighttime lighting of the bulls took place in an open field rather than the streets, attracting thousands to witness the spectacle.
  • The family-run workshop Los Chavitos, known for producing these unique fireworks displays, continues to thrive, passing down the craft through generations.
  • Despite a devastating explosion in 2018 that killed 25 people, the community remains dedicated to preserving this tradition, emphasizing the beauty and passion behind their work.