Night of San Juan (St. John)

Magical night where many crazy traditions occur side by side.

Many are the traditions related to San Juan, night of June 23 to 24, which is closely related to June 21, the first day of summer or summer solstice. 

It is a fire and water celebration, where many of the coastal towns here in Spain build incredible bonfires and burn a dummy called a “Pelele” or Judas.  Currently, even political dolls find their way into the fire.  It is a cleansing ritual where one leaves behind unpleasant things and give birth to, hopefully, better ones. 

What to bring to the fire and what will it’s magic allow? well... obviously bring wood, lots of it, but also the following:  Old clothes, letters, bills, photos, and any object that reminds you of something unpleasant.  If you want to forget an unpleasant event, you just have to write it down in a piece of paper, and throw into the fire.  Gone! Forgotten.

Some used to walk over burning coals, only during this night, one wouldn’t feel pain.  Why would you do this?  Beats me!

Warming our feet but certainly not walking on the coals!

This time of the year coincides with the maturity of  figs, “brevas”, and “higos”, and it is said that if someone wants to learn how to play the guitar instantly, one should sit holding a guitar under a fig tree on this day, and voila! Now you know how to play. 

Mmm, I wonder... if I sit under the fig tree with my flamenco shoes on, will I learn the dance? Mmm...

Figs or brevas, no one can tell me the difference!

It is also believed that the first sun rays of the 24, give the fountains, rivers,  and water in general, a special healing power and provide the person with protection the rest of the year.  Even morning dew, so if you bathe in any waterbody you will be protected for a full year.

The beach is sprinkled with light from the fires.  Some beaches are allowed really big ones.
In our beach, we are lucky we can have one.

If you jump in the ocean water, naked, back first and looking at the moon, your wishes will come true.

Even in Roman times, if you jumped over the fire 3 times, you would be granted health and the herbs collected during midnight of the 24th, would have healing powers.  

When living in Sicily, I had to collect green walnuts from my tree at exactly midnight, so my friend could make the famous Nocino liqueur that his family drinks for Christmas.

Bring old unpleasant memories or not, but don't forget to bring a sweater, it gets cold at night.