Drop the Hammer

military force in the world. In the US invaded Panama after President Bush Sr. Mistook the country's declaration as a serious threat. The situation lasted just over a month, but by the end the invasion had killed between three hundred and a thousand Panamanians and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. Looking back on the devastation, it's clear to see why

so few have tried to go up against America. Well, one nation learned that less in the hard way when it succeeded and then swiftly declared war on an enemy it was grossly under power to face. It was called the conquer Republic, and it was formed in nineteen eighty two. The small island had been known as Cayo Hueso a U. S territory and boasted a population of twenty four thousand

people from all over the world. Germans, Cubans, and Irish travelers, among others, had settled on the island over the years, turning it into quite the melting pot. The United States had set up a military checkpoint on the island that year, inspecting cars for drugs and signs of human trafficking operations. Those on the island were not pleased by the interference to their day to day lives, nor were the tourists who flot there to kick back and relax. The checkpoints

caused massive traffic jams as long as seventeen miles. People getting around the island couldn't do so easily without having their vehicles stopped and searched. As a result of the intrusion, many would be visitors chosen said to go to nearby locations not under US occupation. They canceled their reservations, opting

instead for vacations where they could travel without harassment. The city council tried to get the checkpoints removed by filing an injunction against the U. S Government in federal court, but the case was dismissed. There was a drug problem in the United States, and it was believed that the key to ending it lied in verifying the contents of each car passing through Kayahue So well, the island's mayor,

Dennis Wardlow, couldn't take it anymore. A certain word kept cropping up in meetings between the mayor and his advisors, and one day it seemed like it might be the best way forward. That word secession. If the United States was going to treat the island like a foreign country, then it would have to behave like one too. So on April n the time had come for Kyohui So

to separate from the United States. It was officially renamed to the conquer Republic, named for the slang term used to describe the many Bahamians living on the island who had come from European descent. Mayor Wardlow had suddenly become the Prime Minister, and among his first actions as the head of a new nation, he declared war on America. However, he did it in the most unusual way by cracking a loaf of Cuban bread over the head of someone

wearing a U. S. Navy uniform. It didn't take long for Wardlow to realize he was in over his head, though, and surrendered one minute after declaring independence of the conquer Republic. He then asked the United States for a billion dollars in foreign aid. So why isn't the conquer Republic found on any maps? Because its original name Kyo Huiso is Spanish for Key West, the island that's technically part of Florida.

The secession wasn't real. It had been nothing more than a noisy publicity stunt to send a message to the U. S. Government about its obtrusive checkpoints, and they listened. Shortly after the conquer Republic rejoined America, the points were shut down and tourism to the island boomed, but peace was never permanent. For example, in when the U. S. Army Reserves sent a battalion to Key West for a training exercise, conk

officials were never alerted. In response, Mayor Wardlow ordered a schooner to pelt a coastcard vessel with stale Cuban bread and water balloons. The act of aggression was met with equal forced by the U. S. Coast Guard, who turned their fire hoses on the attacking ship, bringing the fight to an abrupt end. The City of Key West contacted the Department of Defense and complained about their lack of

notice about the exercise. The Department of Defense sent an apology and accepted the Conquered Republics so called surrender a few days later. Today, the conquer Republic is still going strong. It has its own navy, advertised as the largest sail propelled navy in the world, and it hosts several events

in April as part of its Independence Day celebration. It just goes to show that making a big public protest something you can often get results, and sometimes all it takes is a declaration of war on the United States. Explosive holiday celebrations are more common than you think. Almost everyone is familiar with American Independence Day, when towns all over the country light up the night sky with elaborate

firework displays. It's held on July four, the day the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and officially severed ties with England. The tradition dates all the way back to the first anniversary of the signing in seventeen seventies seven, when Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became host to a full blown festival. It included the ringing of bells, a parade, and the launch of thirteen rockets into the air. But July four isn't the only holiday where things explode. There's also the

Beltane Fire Festival in Scotland. Every April, the Beltane Fire Society of Edinburgh lights torches and a huge bonfire to ring in the beginning of summer. Some who joined in the festivities shed their clothes and dance among the flames as music plays into the night. And who could forget Burning Man The week long community events held at the end of August each year in Nevada on the Saturday night before Labor Day, and eighty five foot tall wooden effigy is burned in the middle of the desert as

attendees gather around, dancing and cheering. Meanwhile, the small town of San Juan de la Vega, Mexico, has its own celebration, and it's not only a lot of fun, it's also incredibly dangerous. The thing about a tradition as old as this one is that its origin isn't definitive. According to one account, the festival got its start in the seventeenth century when a man known as San Juanito decided to go up against the local landowners who were taking money

out of the hands of the hard working townsfolk. San Juanito began stealing bad from them, earning him the nickname of Mexico's Robin Hood. Unfortunately, his efforts also resulted in retribution from those landlords. A fight ensued, and one side resorted to using hammers fitted with small bombs that detonated on impact. Another story claimed that Juan de la Vega, the man for whom the town was named, had his

gold stolen by bandits. St John the Baptist helped him get it back, and the town's residents celebrated by tying explosives to large hammers and setting them off. Whatever the case, the victory is honored today with a festival every February, known in Spanish as Fiesta de los Martios Explosivos. In English, it's called the Festival of Exploding Hammers. San Juan de la Vega, located about a hundred and sixty miles north of Mexico City, is quiet for most of the year,

with very little going on to illicit concern. People go about their daily lives without incident until that one day in February when they pull out their sledge hammers and gunpowder and let use. Modern day revelers don't use anything as volatile as dynamiters C. Four. Instead, they fasten a mixture made of potassium chlorate and sulfur to the end of their sledge hammers. The hammers are then hoisted and slammed onto a steel beam in the middle of a

rocky field. What follows is a giant cloud of smoke and a blast with a force so strong it's enough to send someone flying back several feet. It is so popular thousands come to witness the event, with over a hundred first responders standing by in case things go wrong, which they do a lot. Three people required medical attention, including one person who was carried out on a stretcher after he hurt his leg in the blast, and the people wielding the hammers aren't the only ones who suffer

injuries either. Spectators in the line of fire are often hit by shrapnel caused by the blasts. It's clear that the Festival of Exploding Hammers is one of the most unique cultural traditions recognized today, and if you decide to go and see it for yourself, maybe we're some protective goggles just in case. I hope you've enjoyed today's guided tour of the Cabinet of Curiosities. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, or learn more about the show by visiting

Curiosities podcast dot com. The show was created by me Aaron Manky in partnership with how Stuff Works. I make another award winning show called Lore, which is a podcast, book series, and television show, and you can learn all about it over at the World of Lore dot com. And until next time, stay curious.