Scoppio del carro, explosion of the cart
Published March 4, 2010 | 
Easter is almost with us, what do you do if you are in Florence, Italy, want fireworks and want traditional entertainment and solemnity with it? Simple, the Scoppio del carro has it all!!
The Scoppio del carro or Explosion of the cart is a great old folk tradition for the city of Florence. Every Easter a cart loaded with fireworks is paraded through the town then ceremoniously ignited by a rocket on a wire to provide a spectacle, fulfilment of a pagan ritual and a great tourist attraction, not necessarily in that order.
This ceremony dates back to the time of the Crusades and celebrates the brave exploits of one warrior, a man called Pazzino de’Pazzi this Florentine is revered for being the first man to climb the walls of Jerusalem in July of 1099. This brave deed won him the respect of his comrades and his commander and he was awarded two shards of stone from the Holy Sepulchre, shards which were later used to start an annual “holy fire” during Holy Week. This ritual fire used to be carried through the city as a religious relic.
So started the tradition of Scoppio del carro, by the middle ages the flame was carried in a simple carriage or carro. By the 15th century this had evolved into the towering 30 foot tall structure that is still used today. Traditionally it is pulled by white oxen which are covered in flowers and foliage from the first spring plants and accompanied by soldiers, musicians and fancy folk in period dress. The procession starts at the Porta al Prato (door of the Pratt?) and moves to the Piazza del Duomo. That’s where the action is.
Now onto the good part,
The antique Cart is loaded up with fireworks and pyrotechnics and after being paraded through the streets, makes its way to the cathedral square. A thin wire is stretched up to the high alter inside the cathedral. The bells of the Giottos campanile ring out the whole time, and at the appointed moment, the cardinal of Florence lights the rocket head (often called a dove or “columbina”, but in the UK we would call it a pigeon, that shows you the Italians have got class, what we call a pigeon, they call a dove) with the holy fire from the stones. The dove shoots with holy fire to the cart piled high with fireworks, the cart ignites and wheels spin, flares flare, and candles, well, hmm candle. The crowd cheers and another good harvest (pagan again) is assured and good fortune and blessings are upon Florence. The Dove shoots back into the church, presumably to be extinguished by someone distinguished.
And the fireworks blast out, a 20 minute display follows and is enjoyed by all. So if you are in Florence, Italy this Easter and are looking for a fireworks display with a difference. Head along to the Scoppion del carro, you will not be disappointed.
Want to learn about other traditional uses of fireworks throughout the world? No problem, Epic Fireworks have got it covered at our Fireworks Learning Centre
Posted in Uncategorized | 
Celebration Fireworks, de, del, Easter, explosion, fire, fireworks, florence, scoppio del carro | 
Leave a comment11th International Symposium on Fireworks, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 2009
Published April 27, 2009 | The International Symposium on Fireworks was held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last week. With over 300 attendants from 30+ countries, and 10 fireworks shows over the course of the week, it was a fantastic symposium! The Mexican hosts did a great job organizing the event and showing everyone the unique style of Mexican fireworks, and the time and work involved in building their famous Castillos!!
We had a great time watching all the Castillos with their funky colours of blue, pink, red, white, yellow, purple, orange, aqua, pink glitter, white glitter and green glitters! The photos and videos don’t come close to showing the actual colours or brightness of the lances. Almost all the time the colours are so bright that cameras have to be adjusted to its lowest exposure value (mine was -2.0)
The colours are so saturated and pure that it is hard to believe you are looking at something burning and not little Christmas lights! At the end, the lances usually turn into a blindingly white, green, aqua or pink strobe effect that has to be seen to be appreciated.
Monday 20th April
Display by : Union de Pirotecnicos del Estado de Jalisco, Comision representativa del Estado de Michoacan, Comision Representativa del Estado de Guanajuato, Antonio Sonora Corona, Zacatecas.
Type of Show: Traditional “Castillos de Morillo” plus Aerial Display
Girondolas with lances set up on the playground
Castillos
More Castillos
View of all the Castillos ..
This was an amazing show, lasting over an hour with lots of mosaic walls, groovy wheels, girondolas and set pieces.
Tuesday 21st April
Display by Pirotecnicos de Tultepec.
Type of Show: Daylight Castillo
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Helicopter on the top of the Castillo – it looks small in this photo, but after “landing” …
this is how big it was! That’s John Werner in the photo, with Phil Grucci and Tino Foti behind posing with the other helicopter.
Rows of rockets with colour smoke and whistles!
This was the only daytime display at the Symposium and it was truly unique. It lasted for about 20 minutes and was like watching a puppet show with plenty of surprises.
Tuesday 21st April
Display by Pirotecnicos de Tultepec.
Type of Show: Pyromuscial including Castillos. This display was choreographed and fired by Pirotecnicos Flores.
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2 days, 120 crew, 1,200 cues, 10,000 lances, 3 Castillos of 35m height and a main castillo of 50m height.
Lunch time for the crew
View from the playground behind the display.
The 50m high Castillo
That’s one big Spanish style single shot rack!
About 6 armed security guards watching the set up.
Pyromusical fired using Pyromate®
Globos Aerostaticos – Hot Air Balloons
Similar to Sky Lanterns, these colourful Hot Air Balloons come in all different shapes and sizes, and even come attached to lances for nighttime! Under the balloon is a knitted ball soaked in camphor.
Here’s how it works ..
Here’s one at night with lances hanging off! One of these fell back into the audience a minute or so after going up, but it’s Mexico, so it’s cool!!
Tuesday 21st April
Display by Pirotecnia Espectacular Adan
Type of Show: Castillo Pyromusical
Location: the Malecon
Mexico Ante El Mundo or Mexico To The World was the title of the show. Amazing Castillos of 3 famous landmarks
Thursday 23rd April
Display by Ramsa Pirotecnia
Type of Show: Traditional “Castillo” plus Pyromusical
From San Pedro Zumpango, David Silva of Pyro ® Producciones Piromusicales designed and fired this 19 minute show with FIREONE ® equipment. The pyromusical show consisted of a great Castillo with double tower 30m high with set pieces, 3”, 4”, 6” an 8” shells made by the Ramos Family, and bonbettes, candles, mines and comets made by APM Fireworks of Joel Hernandez.
This show was an excellent choreographed display to music with a fantastic set piece with a giant spinning wheel. A horizontal butterfly set piece that takes off!!
Thursday 23rd April
Display by Union de Pirotecnicos de San Mateo Tlalchichilpan.
Type of Show: Traditional
Photo of the set up:
This was fantastic! Started off as a motionless circle gerb set piece but then the two rotation wheels started!
As this wheel spins, one pattern emerges but after about 20-30 seconds, the pattern changes to another and then back again! The lances are made with a “dark” composition pressed in between one or two colours.
Lots of mini girondolas on top of the Castillo!!
Friday 24th April
Display by Fuegos Artificiales Ramos Garcia, Fuegos Artificiales OSRAMS, Fuegos Artificiales Don Beo, Cesar Ramos Delgado, Fuegos Artificiales Monarca
Type of Show: Pyromusical
This display was fired at the end of the Closing Gala Dinner on the beach at the Westin Puerto Vallarta. Due to technical problems, the display did not start until 11pm.
That’s Roger Schneider.
Friday 24th April
Display by Union Estatal Poblana de la Pirotecnia Yotecatl
Type of Show: Traditional “Castillo” plus aerial display
This display was at the Sports Ground, but those that attended the Gala did not see this as the show started promptly at 11pm, as there were about 45,000 locals waiting to see it. This show was presented by the state of Puebla, which is the second region of manufacturing of fireworks in Mexico. The display was accompanied by a live orchestra. We will have to wait for the video from The Fireworks Channel ….
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE – CASTILLOS OR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS?
PRESENTATIONS
On top of all these firework displays, about 35 papers were presented at this Symposium, over 10 moderated sessions and several workshops.
The tradeshow was very well attended with 24 exhibitors. Both Pirotecnia Adnan and Pirotecnicos de Tultepec had some very popular miniature dummy “toritos” and “castillos” displayed.
Fireone, Galaxis-Showtechnick, Pyrotronix, Infinity Visions/Pyrodigital and Firelinx all displayed their computer programmed firing systems, which are becoming very popular amongst Mexicans, because choreographed firework displays are now becoming as popular as their traditional “Castillos”.
Posted in Firework Videos, United States | 2009, Conventions, de, mexico, Puerto Vallarta, set | Leave a comment
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