That indeed is the history of that festival and this is quite something else, less party, less *omg don't DO THIS!!* disturbing, more ritualized, more spiritually driven, alchemistic transformation fortified - really 100% don't do anything as spectacularly irresponsible as in this video of the festivities.
One matchhead accellerates your benevolent intentions into a 3km/s shock front
intent - muscle - detonation I can't stress enough the importance of striking but a single match and no more, harm reduction vividly applies.
In my own spiritual practice, I use this striking-thunder
Mabundondi to activate my almost century old Congolese Nkondi that I do spirit work with, vividly.
Its completely impractical to say the least to discharge a rifle before him, this is urban 2026 Holland not rural 1930s Congo

so a smack on a match primes him just fine, a Nkondi being a spirit of Lightning and Thunder.
more about this particular Nkondi in his own words
I side with our beloved admin 100% - no Mexican zanyness with this information, Bluelight
In Mexico they festively test their Faith and Gods willingness to keep them safe by detonating just about half a hand grenade at twice arms length but, seriously, seriously dont do somehing so unhinged to force a miracle. With amounts this great you risk shards of metal being shattered off and shooting off at two kilometers a second - it is not sane to risk this. God in for instance the Koran advises to leap into the fire, so it will cool and let you pass through but, this is way too gratuitous risktaking - there are less cavalier ways to challenge fate, like a good lungful of DMT or skydiving. Metal shards zipping by at asteroid speeds is not an environment you should expose yourself to if you can avoid it.
I find forcing Deus ex Machina recreationally is not the type of relationship I want with the Almighty, how about humility?
God loves you to death so - don't make haste tempting Fate
