This Wednesday the 2nd of July 2015, the Heiva festivities have been opened by the traditional ceremony of the fire-walk. Like every year and for many years now, it’s the priest Raymond Graffe who headed the ceremony. The bravest people had the opportunity to walk on the oven covered with heated volcanic stones. At the end of the ritual which is said “purifying”, the priest and his assistants cover the oven with inflamed coconut palms and walk over it. The traditional ceremony ends with a kiss forehead against forehead and nose against nose. Now the festivities of the Heiva I Tahiti are well launched….