Summer festivals in Galicia, whether in the city or in a parish, have a central element inseparable from tradition: pyrotechnics. However, the pandemic has also swept away this part of the celebrations; last year because there were practically no parties and this year because the restrictions in force complicate its organization.
The companies in the sector warn that they are on the verge of ruin. Of the nearly fifty that came into being in the 1980s, less than twenty remain in all of Galicia. One of them, Rocha-Areas Pirotecnica, recognizes that they live in an extreme situation. This company was founded at the end of the 19th century and five generations later it is managed from Paderne by the same family. Its activity has been frozen in March 2020; it does not bill even 10% of what was usual and its 6 employees have been at ERTE since then. One of the proprietary brothers, who is also secretary of the Galician Association of Pyrotechnic Industries, Rafael Castro.
For this weekend, which has corresponded to the most important in terms of festivals in A Coruña and its region, they have had to travel to Monforte de Lemos. His last hiring in the region, the council of Miño a few weeks ago.
They appeal to local administrations to help a sector that they recognize “is luxury”, but from which many families live and which drives the economy of many localities. Castro explains that it is possible to organize these events from different points of a town, as has been done in Miño or Santiago de Compostela, “the question is to want to”, Rafael Castro sentenced.
This summer is the last chance to generate revenue until at least Easter next year. Until then the bills will continue to pile up in many drawers.
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