Night of San Juan

Summer Solstice - Night of San Juan

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San Juan is the party night here on the Costa del Sol, a summer night of fireworks, flames, bonfires, and parties on the beach. San Juan is when the Spanish, both young and old, head for the Mediterranean coast, and party for five days and nights from the 20th to the 24th of June – incorporating the longest day and shortest night of the year.

Traditionally in Spain, it’s a celebration concerned with cleansing the spirit, and to do so you have to leap several times over a bonfire. The other main tradition is to swim, or at least paddle in the sea at midnight – again a method of banishing bad spirits. The roots of this celebration date back to Pagan times, as it’s held over the Summer Solstice, an event marked throughout northern Europe, though over the years other explanations have been added in keeping with local tradition. In Pagan ritual it was meant to be a homage to the power of the sun (hence held over the longest daylight day of the year) and Solstice literally means "sun stands still". Generally though, it is now accepted to be an event in honour of John the Baptist. Coastal towns and cities in Spain like Malaga do it the best with massive bonfires on the beaches, often adorned with huge papier mâché figures and faces, which are burned through the night. Of course, good food and drink are all part of the festivities, and most bars will be open well into small hours of the morning.

Cities like Valencia and further south Alicante, are also spectacular venues for this annual extravaganza, with the entire Costa Blanca becoming one huge sheet of coastal fire. But even inland areas of Spain still have bonfires in the main square of the town, to mark the event. Meanwhile in the Icod de los Vinos area of Tenerife, huge balls of fire are rolled down hillsides - each region of Spain has its own variation of the theme. In many areas, writing down your wishes and dreams for the year on a piece of paper and then hurling it into the fire, is also encouraged. Of course, music and dancing play a central role too. The night of San Juan really is something not to be missed...