Les simbologies i els rituals al voltant del foc. IV Simposi de Focs a la Mediterrània

Les simbologies al voltant del foc collects the presentations and communications presented at the IV International Symposium on Festive Fireworks of the Mediterranean, which took place on November 22, 23 and 24 in the city of Andorra la Vella (the Principality of Andorra ). The symposium, organized by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Andorran Society of Sciences, the Taula Nacionals de Fallaires de les Valls d'Andorra Institut Ramon Muntaner has the collaboration of the Government of Andorra, the Comú d Andorra la Vella, Andorra Tourism and the Chair of Education and Intangible Heritage of the Pyrenees (CEPIP) of the University of Lleida. The initiative served as a meeting point and reflection around safeguarding, recognition, research and publications, the entities and people in the fire festivals, with special attention to the fires of Sant Joan and the Falles del Pirineu.

In recent years, there has been an outbreak of debates on the safeguarding and recognition of different fire festivals in the Mediterranean, especially the summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. It aims to analyze the fire festivals and their symbolism linked to pagan rituals, the Christian festive calendar and events of everyday life, as well as the latest research, publications, people and institutions that make the different fire festivals possible. Reflections, research and expert testimony are collected in the twenty-three papers and communications presented at the IV Mediterranean Fireworks Symposium, held in Andorra la Vella, where the latest news and debates on the present and the future of the party were collected.