𝐍𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐜, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚, 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧

Picture this: Of all the devilishly delightful soirées I've attended, none quite matched the spectacle of Correfoc de Sant Joan, Nit De Foc or Night of fire or my own name for the event: Night of Demons. It's a celebration that goes beyond the mere sparkle of fireworks and the charm of traditional festivities; in certain corners of Spain, they take it up a notch by setting demons loose to create chaos.

Now, our adventure began on a humorous note. My friend and I thought we'd booked flights to Parma, but upon landing and quizzing the airport staff about our supposed destination, they gave us a resounding "No." Panic set in as we contemplated the possibility of spending a fortune and hours of travel only to end up in the wrong place. We even hopped into a cab, and the driver added insult to injury by confirming that we were way off course. Fast forward to that evening, strolling along the beach, we stumbled upon a map that finally assured us we were in the right spot. And our excitement, well, it took off like a rocket!

La Palma, this slice of Spain, isn't your typical tourist haunt. I'd previously frequented places like Magaluf, known for its 'English scum' - ahem, I mean, charming folks. But La Palma? It's a true gem, a breathtaking beauty. We dolled up and hopped on a bus, ending up right next to the enormous cathedral designed by the illustrious Gaudi. We meandered through the ancient town's walls, and what we saw in the distance was nothing short of diabolical. Drumbeats, fires, and smoke billowed towards the cathedral, creating a mesmerizing hellish spectacle. While we gazed in awe, someone pointed to the sky, where a string of lights stretched across the midnight canvas. "Santa Claus," one exclaimed. "Extraterrestrial," another yelped. Turns out, my smart friend identified them as weather balloons and satellites ascending into the cosmos, but combined with the recent submarine disappearance, it all felt oddly bizzare and almost supernatural.

As we arrived at the festivities, it was overly apparent that no event in the UK could rival this level of insanity. Too many laws, too many complaints, and too many crybabies, you see. I did, however, worry about my friend's flowing hair, and my own hairspray-filled locks, which made me feel like a human firework. And speaking of fireworks, these weren't your average backyard sparklers. They were detonating right next to us, massive explosions popping in every direction, demons charging at the crowd with fiery tridents and wings ablaze. It was chaos, pure and simple!

We darted around, seeking shelter from the fiery mayhem. I now understand why everyone carried blankets – they doubled as fireproof shields against the infernal flames spewing from the demons' mouths. Now, considering my extensive resume of infernal duties, one could say I'm no stranger to demons – after all, I am, in essence, the devil's right-hand person. But being in skimpy shorts and a leotard, I hadn't quite anticipated the flames coming quite so close to my fair, Gothic complexion. Panic occasionally crept in, but I must admit, I rather reveled in the exhilaration.

What added to the eerie ambiance was the fact that I only speak a smidge of Spanish. When the demons muttered sinister somethings in their deep, growling voices, it was in a language even more hellish to my English ears. At one point, a mischievous demon sidled up, whispered infernal nothings in my ear, and gifted me the mother of all wedgies. Yes, blessed by a wedgy from hell, I felt truly honored to be part of this devilish revelry! Though my garments for the occasion were only somewhat appropriate, I did feel very flattered when not one, not two but three hot Spanish (what i can only assume were) millionaires told me I looked 'very sexy'! Trying to keep my vanity down was a struggle that evening hehe! Though, wearing a thong and a leotard was certain a choice, I must confess the comfortable nature of such garments I may have to reconsider for such occasions, demon and man magnet or not!

The background to Sant Joan as described online as “Sant Joan on 24 June, day of St. John, is for many people part of the most important holidays in Barcelona. Two special events are celebrated: St. John's birthday - the patron saint of Catalonia - and the summer solstice, which is the shortest night of the year and the calendric beginning of the summer.”

In some regions, participants may dress up as "devils" or "demons" as part of the pageantry. These devilish figures often wear elaborate, fiery costumes and masks, further emphasising the fire-themed nature of the festival. These symbolic demons play a role in the visual and theatrical aspect of the celebration, adding an element of mystique and excitement to the event.

After the demons were called away, the night went on with a band and DJ which the locals seem to love, my friend and I, now somewhat high... That could be high on life or high in other ways, I will neither confirm nor deny... Decided to collapse on the grass and chat for a few hours before taking off into the night and going to see the Cathedral up close, which was an epic experience.

The inclusion of demons is more of a cultural and theatrical tradition, and it doesn't have any religious or sinister connotations. Instead, it's a way to make the Nit de Foc a captivating and memorable experience for participants and spectators alike. I think this concept is absolutely incredible.

There's no words to really describe how much fun this event really is. It was absolutely amazing and I'm going to try and go every year.

Thank you for reading and your on going support for the project.

Minister Sitri Tommy Belucifer