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The Exploding Hammer Festival, also known as the Festival of San Juan de la Vega, is a tradition in San Juan de la Vega, Guanajuato, Mexico. It is part of the carnival season leading up to the 40-day fast of Lent, two days before Ash Wednesday.
Saint John, was a Mexican version of Robinhood in the 17th century and was "sainted" by the townspeople. He is the town's patron and the event's marquee, but Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, gets the attention.
For the primary exhibition, participants dressed in brightly colored costumes and masks represent Judas and carry sledgehammers into the village square. In teams, each strikes a greased pole, [el palo encebado], to create the spark that ignites the oil leading to the top where fireworks are attached. The team that manages to ignite the fireworks is declared the festival winner. On a smaller scale, men and boys attach fireworks and small explosives to the face of sledgehammers and smash them throughout the streets.
The festival is believed to have originated during the pre-Hispanic as a spring equinox celebration. Like many local customs, it was incorporated into the Catholic calendar as a festival to celebrate a saint.
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