La Noche de San Juan (St John’s Eve), starting at sunset on 23rd June, is one of the most iconic and traditional celebrations in Spain.
In many Spanish towns, bonfires are lit. Some people even jump over them for good luck! Parties are often organized at beaches, where firework displays usually take place.
The fire and the water are essential purifying elements in this tradition. People write their concerns on a piece of paper and burn the paper in the bonfire, to symbolically destroy what is weighing them down. Then they dive or bathe in the sea, to spiritually cleanse themselves and wish for prosperity.
There is something magical about this night. Even if you’re not close to a bonfire or a beach, you can still ask St John for a year of good fortune!