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A corruption of the Italian “Giochi di Fuoco” meaning the games of fire. A funny-sounding, somehow endearing onomatopoeia that renders to perfection the rusty gyrating sounds of a Catherine wheel rotating madly on its pivot.
Ġigġifogu refers to the pyrotechnical endeavour where wooden structures rotating on especially forged mechanisms and powered by fire, recreating rather complex patterns and some very wonderful movements. The ġigġifogu or the “nar tal-art”, or better pyrotechical work fixed to the ground as opposed to fireworks created for adorning skies is a source of fascination to the crowd as the cunning engineering bows its head to the artistic pursuit of creating revolving floral, star-like or lacey mandalas.
The Catherine wheel is perhaps the simplest form in this category but this craft has evolved to far more ambitious heights. Traditionally, every year on the eve of the feast of the Assumption in Triq il-Belt Valletta in the vicinity of the chapel ta’ Santu Kristu, parallel to the village’s cemetery a long line of ġigġifogu is prepared for consumption close to midnight. It’s a yearly appointment that happens from time immemorial losing provoking people’s childlike fascination and stirring awe in the gathered crowds.
