No, the “devil symbol” was not seen at Barcelona’s New Year’s celebrations
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The video, which was shot during New Year 2023 in Barcelona, has been shared by conspiracy theory-savvy Twitter accounts for several days. These accounts claim that a “satanic symbol” was projected into the sky. But it was actually a Celtic symbol used to celebrate cultural diversity.
Validation in one word
- As of January 2, 2023, Twitter accounts claimed with video support that a “devil symbol” in the shape of a sheep would be projected into the sky of a city in Spain during the 2023 celebrations.
- This video was shot in Barcelona and shows the pyrotechnic show marking the transition to 2023.
- The editorial staff of France24 Observers contacted the company that produced this show. Its representative explains that the aim was to evoke the diversity of cultures and peace. In this context, the sheep-shaped mask represented Celtic culture.
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“New Year’s celebration in Spain with the appearance of Baphomet!”. Since January 2, 2023, several similar tweets have claimed that a “satanic symbol” was projected onto the sky of a city in Spain during 2023 transition celebrations.
These tweets are accompanied by a video showing the fireworks, which has garnered more than 80,000 views. In these images, we can see lights taking the form of a four-horned sheep. It is this symbol that some Twitter accounts used to conspiracy publications have interpreted as a “satanic symbol” or even a direct reference to the goat-headed idol “Baphomet”.
Thanks to the fountain seen in the video, it is possible to confirm that these images were taken in Barcelona, more precisely in front of Plaza España. The date of this video can also be determined from this first clue. To do this, you need to search the Internet for the keywords “plaça Espanya fuegos artificiales”, that is, “Fireworks in Spanish Square”.
This search refers to several videos posted on YouTube that show fireworks being set off in front of the Spanish Steps to celebrate 2023 on December 31, 2022. However, in this firework we find the same lights that form the sheep. This video shared on Twitter was taken during this event.
But what are these sheep-shaped lights? According to several articles in the Catalan press, this pyrotechnic show was produced by the French company Groupe F. Therefore, France 24 Observers editorial team contacted this company.
Christophe Berthonneau, artistic director of Groupe F, confirms that this pyrotechnic show was indeed produced by his company. But he notes:
The forms in question are actually drones formed in the sky, twelve traditional masks from twelve cultures of the world, from Brazil to the United States, from Scotland to Tyrol, from Morocco to China… The aim was to joyfully celebrate the wonderful cultural diversity. which constitutes humanity.
Christophe Berthonneau also emphasizes that this show ends with the dove as a “symbol of peace” and that there is no “evil intent”. As for the sheep-shaped mask, it was “an object of Celtic tradition relating to the four-horned sheep of Scotland.”
These explanations are confirmed by various videos taken during these fireworks. We see the drones combine several times to form masks reminiscent of Japanese, Italian and even Celtic cultures. And this part of the show ends beautifully with the formation of the dove.
The mask, which takes the form of a “Scottish sheep”, therefore recalls the four-horned breed of sheep, the loagta, native to the Isle of Man. These sheep are sometimes seen as symbols of the island, one of the six Celtic nations recognized by the Celtic Congress. They are found, for example, on some coins used in the Isle of Man.
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