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A Judas' belt, sometimes called Judah's belt, 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.
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Etymology
Popular in the Philippines during New Year's Eve celebrations, it is known as Sinturón ni Hudas (Tagalog for "Judas' belt," from the Spanish cinturón de Judas). 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.
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. 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. The bigger firecracker at the end is usually a bawang, which essentially a bigger triangulo.
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. A typical belt contains only up to one hundred or more and a longer belt is sometimes called sawa, the Tagalog term for python.
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. According to the said law. Judas' belt is a legal firecracker although bigger versions of the Judas' belt are banned.