The Night of San Juan and its Special Magic

Summer Solstice Festivities on the night of San Juan

The Sun's path peaks the ecliptic sphere of The Tropic of Cancer during the summer solstice.

Mankind has rejoiced the season of the sun's warmth for centuries. Bonfires are lit, symbolically revering, the strength of the sun.

Thanks to the sun, harvests ripen. Man can eat and survive. In origin Summer Solstice is a pagan celebration: bonfire-flames purify, water heals. Both are giving life.

The First Summer Fiesta fuses with the birth-date of St. John the Baptist, 24th June. San Juan marks the shortest night of the year. Its festivity takes place on the night of 23rd June.

Andalusia and ALL the coastal areas of Spain, the night of San Juan - translates into a huge beach party.

Certain Rituals

The Spanish, in a centuries-old custom, never visited the beach before the night of San Juan.

Midnight is the Hour of Good Fortune

• Jumping over the red-hot embers (the ascuas) three or any number of odd-numbered times, ordinary-life problems will remit
• In, jumping the ascuas, people are cleansed, sins exonerated and wishes granted
• If you wash your face and feet three times: three wishes are granted
• Evil Spirits are swept away if you race into the sea after midnight
• Swimming in the sea (best naked: young or old) purifies
• Wishes - written on paper - are cast into the flames

It's Not Cold on the Beach that Night

The roaring blaze of the flames will warm you after your midnight swim. The fireworks displays will delight you. New and old friends will surround and warm you.

Principal ingredients needed for a perfect celebration of San Juan are:
Take plenty to drink
Pack Sandwiches or a bonfire menu (bread and sardines are a favourite), if you are not using a nearby chiringuito's services
A warm sweater is very advisable, if you are going to wait for sun-rise

Local Town Halls treat the San Juan beach revellers, to a wide variety of concerts and other distractions to enjoy on the beach.

Alicante, specialises in another kind of Summer Solstice Festivity for the San Juan party. Fogueres de Sant Joan... Ninots (giant-sized papier-mâche dolls) representing satirical current events, are burnt. The skies reflect red flames as hundreds of fires burn throughout Alicante.

No matter where you are in Spain: the romantic blaze of the bonfire flames, combined with water purification are symbolic on the Night of San Juan.

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