Costa del Sol
The night is lit up by the bonfires and people party on the beach
22.06.11 - 11:02 -
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Youngsters around a San Juan beach bonfire. Reuters
San Juan is an ancient festival with pagan roots which celebrates the arrival of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The festival is celebrated on the night of the 23rd of June, the eve of the feast of St. John, although the first day (and shortest night) of the summer solstice is on the 21st June.
The principle of lighting a bonfire is to give the sun more strength as every day from then onwards the days become shorter and the sun ‘weaker’. Symbolically the fire was also meant to ‘cleanse’ the people watching. Although the festival is recognised throughout Europe it is probably most popular in Spain where people have traditionally lit fires in the streets or, on the Costa del Sol, on the beach. Nevertheless Malaga City Hall has reminded citizens this week that lighting bonfires on the beaches and using barbecues, except in designated areas, is actually prohibited.
Lighting a fire may be banned these days but this tradition is matched by the ritual of submerging oneself in water (or at the very least having a paddle and getting hands and face wet) during San Juan. At midnight it is customary to jump into the sea (or river or lake) and make three wishes. Sometimes pieces of paper with wishes written on them are burnt on the bonfire first.
In other parts of Spain it is celebrated by people running in front of a bull made of tin and loaded with fireworks, burning images called Juanillos and jumping over the flames (nine times in some regions) to bring good luck or fertility.
