SPAIN’S San Juan festival has its roots in a pagan celebration that takes place every year to mark the start of summer.
Fire and water, purification and rejuvenation, turning away from the past and looking forward to the future is what the festival is all about.
The feast of San Juan falls on June 24 but it’s the evening/night before that the the celebrations take place, i.e. this Tuesday.
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Given the significance of water during these celebrations, many of the festivities take place in coastal cities and towns of Spain.
On the beaches, bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits and traditionally people are expected to jump over the fire three times to ensure good luck.
But with the hot weather and dangers of fires getting out of control, a number of areas have banned the beach fires this year.
Valencia City Council has prepared a special device with more than 300 police officers and preventive surveillance drones on the beaches.
A fire truck will be based on the promenade of Malvarosa beach and special attention will be paid to the southern beaches, where it is forbidden to light bonfires to protect the integrity of the Albufera Natural Park and the Devesa de El Saler forest.
Elsewhere, firecrackers and bonfires are not allowed on Barcelona’s beaches, although the City Council has allowed a few dozen bonfires in other parts of the city.
In Andalucia, it is down to individual councils to decide whether or not to allow beach bonfires.
With the start of summer, new beginnings are central to celebrate San Juan – out with the old and in with the new.
Many people write down the things they want to leave behind as well as their wishes for the year ahead. These pieces of paper are then burned on the fire.
The burning of the effigies, or of the jua, is also highly symbolic on the night of San Juan.
Originally, statues of Judas would be burned, but over time this tradition has broadened to statues of evil things that the world wants rid of.
At midnight on the Night of San Juan, it is tradition for everyone to run into the sea which is a kind of cleansing ritual which is believed to wash away evil spirits.
Some people will also wash their face and feet three times in order to be granted three wishes.
Whether you are joining in with the festivities of San Juan or not, there is something we can all take from San Juan.
It is a period of reflection, thinking about what we want to leave in the past and what we want to take with us to the future as summer commences.
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