Many will remember the days when “cannou and brousai” (and the loud muffled explosions that came with it) was common during the Christmas season. This photo was taken on Wednesday (December 19) evening.
Photo submitted by Charles Louis. ([email protected])
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Ingredients,
2 – 3 feet cut out bamboo,
5Lbs of rock salt,
1 gallon of kerosene,
1 bousaye,
a good location,
a face mask!
Then you have a good christmas toy.
We have the opportunity to sell Bamboo and make money out of creativity based on this Tradition. What do I mean? Well I got excited when I saw the picture of the Cannou. I decided to read all the comments to see the general views of such a Domiican Christmas Tradition. I wanted to see if any one looked at it from a positive perspective. While it is true that there may be hazards caused by the inappropriate use of the toy,(Cannou), It is something that if developed and used properly, can bring fun to its avid or potential users.
First of all, The noise seems to bother people. Only those who have had the opportunity to go hunt for a piece of bamboo, construct it based on traditional secrets for efficient performance,
purchase the ingredients required for use (not included), and can get it to discharge the loudest boom, know the excitement involved. The loudness and consistency of the boom is its criteria of performance.
In terms of the danger it causes to the eyebrows, This usually occurs when the user blows into the chamber in order to expel the smoke, in preparation for the next shot. from experience, it is usually that time that the instrument backfires, and singes the eyebrows. In that regard, I would like to suggest that piece of metal pipe or fire resistant material should be used to blow into the chamber. (one should be aware that blowing into the chamber could also be introducing oxygen into the mixture in there, and should do this with caution, as oxygen would invigorate the combustion process in the chamber. If the above suggestions are inappropriate, then this is an opportunity for some new innovative process to be used. Of course, fire extinguishing precautionary measures should be involved first of all in selecting the site for use of the toy(Cannou), A good site, which will not cause any fire hazards,Buckets of sand for extinguishing accidental fires, basic knowledge of treatment for burns, should be part of the knowledge base of individuals engaging in this tradition.
If done properly, It can be fun. Instead of persons having to hide to do this, (Most times, parents dont even know that their boys are bursting cannou that night). Also the mystery of boys parents not knowing this adds to the excitement. However, It can be brought out in the open. Open competitions can be held between groups or communities to see whose cannou technology is the best, under the supervision of people who will assist with the extinguishing of fire if this may occur, or finding a suitable location for the event. this could be an annual event that we could invite visitors or tourist to see (take a monetary contribution from onlookers willing to pay)and make a positive venture out of our local tradition.
Can the Cannou be patented as indigenous to Dominican Christmas Tradition? Can it be developed that it can be sold as a souvenier? (nice way to sell bamboo). There are thinkers, scientists and innovators among us. We have to be analytical of the naturally occuring traditions that make us Dominicans, add value to it and use it for our development. Thank you for your time, have a blessed christmas, and a prosperous new
cycle. it has been said that as we go forth from this day (Dec 21 2012) “it is rather a change over to a time of tolerance, compassion, virtues, less stress, violence and upheavals.” Lets give thanks that we are still here. Be ye blessed.
Wee papa, cannou sah. Now that brings back memories, recent ones too.
That was one of my favorite past times.
bring back those days specially on old years night when the old years would close with all the noise from cannon far and near. Throw away those killer GUNS. I feel the spirit just looking at the picture.
I personally do not see anything in that, it has no Christmas feeling for me, dangerous, a set of stupid noise. The police should ban that, what for them to see, they do not see, what of the starlights, etc.
That should be against the law. And the authorities should ban that.
I remember doing this as a kid, and the most harm that came to me was some burnt eyebrows. Why should this be banned? Things like these kept us active and out of trouble. Would you rather the kids out there robbing people or playing video games instead? Its a tradition and has always been done around Christmas.
Just agree your mother didn’t use to let u go outside and play with us after de sun set. Por pitit….Ou ca sam stupid noise…lol
LMAOOO @Koko naughts…u right this one take me… lol esp the last part
LOL. somebody is pissed?!
goodwill they had that last night. ka anik fair twen en tete moun…
Ever had it backfire an burn off ur eye breow…lol…fun times…ever put a busta bottle in the end and launch it like a cannon..lol…ayee TRY AT UR OWN RISK!…Disclaimer…Merry Xmas
BRINGS ME BACK TO MY BOYHOOD DAYS IN LOUBIERE
I grew up in Loubiere too and used to put cans at the end and shoot at others or in the sea.
Only innovative minds conceived these tools. Very interesting. I remember when my nephew and his cousins would make the cannou. They had so much fun. Oh boy! These days were really happy days, according to the mighty Sparrow.
Lol…. dangerous for real.
Every thing is dangerous ever humans
OMG! Now that is real folk lore. Boy the amount of eyebrow of my that burn reveling in the practice. This is one of the things that’s gone missing – in the main – from our traditional Christmas celebrations. I’d give an arm, as the cliche goes, to do this again – “bursting bamboo,” as it was called in my neck of the woods.
Tradition! Still being done at Eggleston! once you start hearing cannou bursting, you know Christmas coming eh!
yeah a time honoured, annoying, not to mention dangerous tradition