«Nit del Foc» in Catalan. «Night of Fire» in English. As it does each year, the Festival of Sant Joan falls on the 23rd of June. But what is it? What exactly are we celebrating? The shortest night of the year, the Summer Solstice! This is a public holiday in Catalunya and a day associated with an electric atmosphere and crazy parties taking all through the night. All around Barcelona you will hear the constant crackling of fireworks shot up from seemingly every rooftop of the city. If you happen to be in Barcelona on this day, you will for sure not miss it!
History of Sant Joan
The Festival Sant Joan Festival celebrates the first day of summer (known as the Summer Solstice in England) and the 24th of June, which is the longest day of the year. As this day also coincides with the birthday of Sant Jean-Baptiste, it is one of the most symbolic and significant nights in the Catholic calendar. Rituals involve purifying fire, midnight baths, songs, dances and other magical rituals and cures. The celebration also calls for a feast, as the sun reaches its highest point and then slowly begins to decend. The three most recognized symbols of the Festival of Sant Joan are:
- fire, which symbolizes the purity of the sun and the reason for the sun staying lit;
- water, which symbolizes healing, and explains why you will find many religious people bathing in the sea on this day;
- and herbs, which symbolize remedy. (Some claim that on the night of Sant Joan their healing qualities are enhanced one hundred times over!)
Festival of Sant Joan in Barcelona
Barcelona locals usually watch the fireworks from their home balconies or rooftop terraces with all of their friends and families. The person with the most spacious balconies or rooftop invites everyone else over. For those who do not have family or friends in Barcelona, the most common place from which to watch the show is the beach. But if you´re planning to experience the fireworks from Barceloneta, make sure to get there early. The beach begins filling up in the early evening with groups who bring picnic baskets and bottles of Cava to watch the fireworks displays and listen to the music playing in the chiringutos (beach bars).
The bars facing the beach often build special extension areas at the front, from which they can sell drinks and snacks for the party people as they arrive at the beach. But don’t worry, this is just common procedure and you´ll find it in most places all around the city and in the main squares.
The Festival of Sant Joan even has its signature dessert dish called the coque. On the 23rd and maybe a few days before/after) you will see these cakes in every bakery of the city. You will find various types of coques, both sweet and savory. The savory ones tend to be more flatbread-like in texture, topped with roasted vegetables and goat cheese, or some thin slices of butifarra sausage or ham. The Sant Joan coques, specifically, are a bit thicker and fluffier, topped with candied fruit and nuts or cream.
Some advice: If you prefer to avoid the craziness of the beach but still see the fireworks, you can also go to the hills of Montjuïc and watch the city from above. At the Montjuïc castle you can organize a nice picnic with friends while watching the firework displays all over the city. To find accommodation in this area, check out our Apartments in Sants – Montjuïc.
Featured Photo Credit: misadventuresofjason.blogspot.com
Photo Credit: meetup.com
Photo Credit: livingit.cat