Bonfires, Esclafidors and Tiradors in the Matarrana
On the eve of El Pilar, the villages of Mazaleon, Valdeltormo and Torre del Compte light up with traditional bonfires. Children and neighbours craft esclafidors and tiradors from river reeds and make them pop on the embers.
On the eve of El Pilar, in the Matarrana region, bonfires are lit in the villages of Mazaleon, Valdeltormo and Torre del Compte.
One of the traditions that endures is lighting bonfires with the esclafidors, in Mazaleon, and with the tiradors, in Valdeltormo. Both esclafidors and tiradors refer to the same thing: days before the night of El Pilar, children go to the riverbank to gather reeds, strip away the leaves and pith until they become thin rods, then heat one end in the embers of the bonfire until they are ready to be set alight. As soon as they catch fire and are struck against the ground, the rods make an explosive sound, similar to a firecracker.
The crackle of the esclafidors or tiradors, gathering around the fire and tasting local produce are the hallmarks of the night of El Pilar in Mazaleon and Valdeltormo.
In Torre del Compte, a bonfire is lit in the centre of the village, and the neighbours gather around the fire, talk and enjoy the local cuisine: meat, wine and traditional sweets.