The arrival of summer also marks the celebration of one of the holidays most associated with magic and mysticism of the year: the night of San Juan. This event, which fuses pagan and Christian tradition, is characterized by the lighting of bonfires on which to fulfill the tradition of jumping over the flames, and other “purifying” rituals.
The festival of San Juan, which was previously associated with rebellion and saying goodbye to the old or negative, has now become one of the most popular festivals, especially on the coast, programmed by cultural and neighborhood organizations, maintaining tradition. These are the historical details, the towns most recognized for their celebration and useful information about how this magical night is celebrated.
When is San Juan?
The night of San Juan 2024 is celebrated in the early morning of June 23 to 24, on the eve of San Juan Bautista according to Catholic saints.
What is celebrated on San Juan night?
According to Christian tradition, the night celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, which takes place six months before that of Jesus Christ. The night of San Juan is celebrated, specifically, on the eve of the date of birth it commemorates.
On that date, Zechariah – father of Saint John the Baptist – ordered a bonfire to be lit to announce the birth of his son John. Given the recognition of him as a precursor of the Christian messiah, his image has been a recurring theme in the history of art.
He is the fourth most represented character in the works of the Prado Museum, after Jesus, the Virgin and Saint Joseph. His life served as an inspiration for artists such as El Greco, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
From the pagan perspective, the occasion has other origins. In this case, the night is associated with the ancient tradition of lighting thousands of bonfires and lamps on the night of the summer solstice in order to send strength to the Sun as it moves towards the increasingly shorter days of the year. The intention of such activity was, according to tradition, to scare away evil spirits, get rid of negative events so far and give strength to the Sun on its day of greatest presence.
Where is a holiday in Spain?
In the 2024 work calendar, St. John’s Day is not considered a national holiday, although it is a non-working day in some areas. This is the case of the Valencian Community, where June 24 is a recoverable holiday, that is, the worker can decide whether he enjoys it or not.
It is also a holiday in 2024 in Catalonia. In this way, the Valencian Community and Catalonia are the only two autonomous communities that consider San Juan as a holiday, although not 100%. However, in other Spanish towns such as Albacete, Alcalá del Júcar, Almuñécar, Badajoz or Coria it is a non-working day.
Rituals of Saint John
Apart from the bonfires, San Juan night is linked to the rituals and legends that accompany it. One of the best-known rituals is to jump over the bonfires an odd number of times. Likewise, placing bonfires on the beaches is also related to another symbolic act: bathing in the sea after midnight as a guarantee of health for the entire year.
There are also other rituals such as jumping waves. According to tradition, people who jump nine waves, turning their backs to the sea, will eliminate negative energies and increase fertility. It is also common to celebrate San Juan by burying a piece of a candle that has burned in one of the bonfires at night to obtain the same benefits. Although the latter is tradition, it is important to remember that you should not leave any remains on the beach.
Another characteristic ritual is to write wishes on a piece of paper and then burn them at the stake. In certain areas, love and luck spells are also prepared as part of the most common and expected rituals. In the case of Madrid, in the absence of the coast, it was replaced by washing one’s face in the fountains or celebrating on the banks of the Manzanares.
San Juan’s bonfires
Jumping over bonfires is one of the most anticipated and enjoyed traditions in this celebration. The act is related to purification and good luck. Around the bonfires, it is customary for friends and family to gather to share the experience.
Apart from the link with the bonfire of the father of Saint John the Baptist to celebrate the birth of his first-born and the pagan tradition, during the same date the Aztec warriors in Mexico performed rituals so that the fire would help the earth and men to obtain good harvests. . Meanwhile, in Hindu tradition, the summer solstice symbolizes the path to the ancestors. In this context, they usually keep the ashes from the bonfires all year round.
In Spain, many localities light bonfires in public places such as beaches or squares, among other spaces. The celebrations that stand out the most are those of Barcelona, Menorca, Alicante and Galicia.
Saint John in Barcelona
In Catalonia, Francesc Pujades, a resident of Northern Catalonia in France, inspired by the poem Canigo by Jacint Verdaguer, in 1955 he decided to light the fires of San Juan at the top of the mountain and spread the flame everywhere. Since then, bonfires and pyrotechnic shows have been held on Barceloneta beach and others in the city. The night is starred by music, dances and traditions. To this end, the City Council has published the festivities’ schedules on its website.
The party in Menorca
In Menorca the festival is celebrated with the Jaleo and the Caracoles, which emerge at noon of each town’s festival and in the evening of the day before. It consists of a ride in which the horse, controlled by the “Caixer” (rider), does the bot to the rhythm of Jaleo music. In 2024, 12 bonfires will be lit in the center of Ciutadella, and 7 street parties, on the vigil before the departure of the parade. In this case, you can consult the festivities program here.
Alicante
Meanwhile, Alicante is one of the destinations with the most traditional San Juan bonfires. The festival includes the Fireworks Contest on Cocó Beach, a pyrotechnic show, between June 25 and 29. The City Council has already made public the schedules of the festivities.
Galicia
Finally, in Galicia 44 municipalities have classified the day as a local holiday. The Galician bonfires illuminate the historic center of the capital every year. In 2024 at 00:00 the traditional luminaria will emerge, followed by the ‘Queima da bruxa’ and the popular queimada. Among the most recognized activities is the Cacharelo Train. According to the official program, this will circulate between 5 and 10 p.m. for free, prior to the traditional culmination of San Juan Santiago, which is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.
Celebration of San Juan in Madrid
In the case of Madrid, the Dehesa de la Villa park will host the San Juan festivities from Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23. The main celebrations will take place in three settings: Francos Rodríguez, the Julio Cortázar cultural center and Lugar Poetas square. Music will be one of the key events with the electronic rhythms of OBK and the performance of Rafa Sánchez, from La Unión, on the Francos Rodríguez stage on Friday. Carmen Lillo, Papawanda and DJ Cordobés & Andresito will also pass through this stage. There will also be workshops, popular Castilian games, sports activities, dances and music of different styles.
Summer Solstice
The night of San Juan is the shortest of the year, coinciding with the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. This event marks the moment when the northern hemisphere is most tilted towards the Sun (+23º 27′), resulting in the longest day and, therefore, the shortest night of the year. Also, this is the time when summer begins in the northern hemisphere and winter in the south. However, despite their association, both events do not coincide.
Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, which brought forward the arrival of summer, the celebration does not coincide exactly with the solstice. Even so, the festival is still associated with the solstice and its bonfires continue intended to give more strength to the Sun, which from that day on will have less and less. The meaning and fascination towards the night, both local and tourist, are maintained, as is its relationship with the celebration of the astronomical event.
