Last June 20tha few minutes before five in the afternoon, summer has officially started in Spain. This time, characterized by high temperatures and trips to coastal places, also has its own celebrations and traditions. One of the most important is held every year on the night of the 23 to 24 of the sixth month of the year. It is, at this time, when what is known as San Juan Night is celebrated.
This festival takes place in numerous parts of our territory, in which bonfires play a major role. Autonomous communities such as Catalonia or the Valencian Community They live this day in a particularly intense way, in which fire, being part of the aforementioned element, is one of the key points on which this event is based, marked in red on all the calendars of our country. This is why it is worth reviewing the origin or meaning of this tradition, one of the best known in Spain.
What is the origin of the celebration of San Juan Night?
Although currently the night of June 23 to 24 It’s a night of celebration among friends and family, Its initial origin was different from that of now. It is a pagan celebration, whose origin is in the arrival of the summer solstice: fire purifies and burns the old and bad, in order to make room for new opportunities and desires. To do this, some dolls are made based on straw, rags or paper (mastros)which represent the bad things of last year.
How has the tradition evolved, from pagan religion to Christianity?
The two basic elements of this celebration are fire and the Sun, and lighting bonfires is an old custom of an ancient cult of the Sun. They were lit to give it strength to continue illuminating the rest of the year, at the same time they asked the gods for a prosperous future for lovers.
Later, Christianity transferred it to the date when The Bible dates the birth of Saint John the Baptist. In Spain, it has more tradition in Mediterranean coast, as well as in Galicia or Asturias.
What is usually done on San Juan Night?
Although the bonfire fire is the main ritual of this well-known celebration, it is not the only one: so are water or pyrotechnics. As for the bonfires, the main ritual is that of skip them (the number of times varies depending on the area), but also the burning of old books (especially students who have already finished the course). Also, in the area of the Valencian Community, pyrotechnics become more present.
In contrast, the sea water, for bathing and as a purification rite. Another traditional rite is known as St. John’s cluster (composed of seven or nine different herbs), which drives away the evil eye and calls for good luck. In Galicia it is traditional to prepare the burnedto which are attributed healing properties.
Finally, another well-known is the egg rite, for women who want to get married. It consists of breaking an egg and pouring the albumen into a glass of water, leaving it on the window on San Juan night. In the morning, the shape of the egg will reveal information about the future husband.
