Judas's belt

An eighty round Judas' belt with the fuse burning, prior to exploding.

A Judas's belt, sometimes called Judah's belt,[1] is a type of firecracker that produces multiple explosions. Named after Judas Iscariot, the belt consists of a string of small triangular or tubular shaped firecrackers approximately totaling up to one hundred or more and a bigger firecracker in the end. A longer version of the firecracker belt is sometimes called sawa, the Tagalog word for python.

Etymology

Popular in the Philippines during New Year's Eve celebrations, it is known as Sinturón ni Hudas (Tagalog for "Judas's belt," from the Spanish cinturón de Judas).[2] The name comes from an old Catholic tradition during Holy Week in the Philippines, wherein a chain of firecrackers is strapped to an effigy of Judas Iscariot and then lit up.[3]

Description

A Judas belt consists of a number of small explosives that can be either tubular or triangular in shape, wrapped in thick paper, and arranged sequentially along with a common fuse and a bigger firecracker at the other end.[1] The small triangular shaped explosives, which is also known as triangulos, each measure typically 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) length in its longest side while the tubular shaped firecrackers, which is known as el diablos or diablos, each measure typically 1 1⁄4 inches (32 mm) long and 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) in diameter.[1] The bigger firecracker at the end is usually a bawang, which essentially a bigger triangulo.[1]

The belt can be laid out on the ground or suspended from something like a tree or wall. The end of the fuse is lit, and as the fuse burns, it ignites each of the explosives with a noise similar to a machine gun.[4] A typical belt contains only up to one hundred or more and a longer belt is sometimes called sawa, the Tagalog term for python.[2][5]

Safety

In the Philippines, Republic Act 7183 was enacted to regulate and to control the sale, distribution, manufacture and use of firecrackers for public safety.[1] According to the said law. Judas's belt is a legal firecracker[6] although bigger versions of the Judas's belt are banned.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7183". chanrobles.com. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Cardinoza, Gabriel; Macob, Johanne Margarette; Sotelo, Yolanda (December 31, 2015). "Police appeal: Use phones vs gun violators". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Good to Know: Firecrackers in the Philippines". primer.com.ph. December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Revellers injured by fireworks during Philippines New Year celebrations". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  5. ↑ "New Year countdown: 50-80 injuries hourly". Rappler. December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  6. ↑ Roxas, Joseph Tristan (November 29, 2016). "PNP bares list of legal firecrackers, pyrotechnics for holiday revelry". GMA News. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  7. ↑ Calonzo, Andreo (December 26, 2011). "List of fireworks and firecrackers prohibited in the PHL". GMA News. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
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