Posts Tagged ‘fire’
Today, marks the celebration of San Juan, also known as “Verbenas de Sant Joan” and “Nit de Sant Joan.” The night of June 23 is the shortest night of the year and few days earlier marks the official beginning of summer. The origns of the festival celebrates Saint John the Baptist.
However it is traced back to pre-christian times in celebration of the arrival of the summer solstice. It is celebrated by fireworks, bon fires, and other festivities along the beach. Many people go to the beach and practices rituals through out the night. Some of these rituals include, jumping over fires, and going into the water at midnight. Jumping over the fire supposedly symbolizes cleaning the soul. All the beaches along the coast of Spain are lit up by fire. Fire is a symbol of abundance, purity, and fertility, which is why you may see people putting old furniture into the fire. Going into the water at midnight washes away evil spirits as well as gain eternal beauty, since it is believed that water during this night has curative powers. Water also symbolizes the baptism of Saint John. Another symbol is herbs, and it believed that on this night their power is multiplied, and many herbs are collected. In the pastry shops they have a bread called Cocas (sweet bread) which is eaten during the hours of darkness. The bread should be twice as long as it is wide. Firework stands are set up all over town, if you would like to have your firework show. As the celebrations go on into the morning of the 24, which is acutally Saint John’s day, it is a public holiday and necessary to have the day off. The night of Sant Joan is truly a magical night, filled with fireworks, and bonfires. The metro is also open all night, which makes it easy and cheap to get around. For non stop festivities and partying, head to the beach for an unforgetable night. But remember to use caution when lighting a fire and fireworks. For more information about the holiday and where to buy fireworks, click here. http://www.bcn.cat/santjoan/en/welcome.htm
