Abstract
THE archaic rite of fire-walking has practically died out in Europe. It can only be witnessed now in Spain, at San Pedro Manrique, in two places in Bulgaria, by the Nistinares, in a village near Serrai, Greek Macedonia, and in a village north-west of Thessaloniki. The last two sites were brought to my notice by Dr Felix Hoeburger who saw these festivals on the day of Holy Constantius and St Helena (22 May) in 1965 and 1968 respectively. In classical times, Pliny, Strabo and Virgil mention fire-walking on Mt Soracte, near Rome, and at Castabala, South Cappadocia.' India, Java, Burma, Bali, Japan, the Straits Settlements, Mauritius, Trinidad, South Africa, Yucatan and Paraguay also know this rite. In Polynesia it has been studied by Dr P. R. Evans. This custom is described by A. W. Howitt in his book, Native Tribes in S.E. Australia. Here is an extract from p. 575:
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