The night of San Juan is, without a doubt, one of the most magical nights of the year. It is celebrated in many places around the world, especially on the coast, on the night of June 23 to 24. In this post, from
Apartamentos Port Saplaya we want to talk specifically about how
San Juan is celebrated in Valencia .
Origin of the celebration of San Juan
Despite the name of the festival, its origin is of pagan origin . There are several theories about it. On the one hand, in Celtic culture the arrival of the summer solstice was celebrated by lighting bonfires to ask for the blessing of land, men and cattle. Also, in ancient civilizations, which ruled their lives by the sun, they lit large bonfires to give strength to the sun, which from this date onwards reduces the hours of light.
Whatever the origin, the truth is that both refer to the solstice or the arrival of summer, which, as we all know, is on June 21. So why is Saint John celebrated on the 24th? The truth is that a few years later , Christianity adopted this holiday to honor Saint John the Baptist , one of its most important figures. According to the Old Testament, Zechariah, the father of Saint John the Baptist, ordered a bonfire to be lit to announce the miracle of the birth of his son.
How San Juan is celebrated in Valencia
On the night of San Juan , the beaches of the city and the entire Valencian coast are filled with people . The most popular plan is to meet up with friends and family on the beach to have dinner, light a bonfire and welcome the summer. Some dance, others carry out some rituals to get rid of negativity and welcome the summer.
Fire and water are the main protagonists of the night. Each group of friends lights a bonfire (whenever permitted) in which they “burn” all the bad things to face the summer with new energy. There are different rituals, some burn papers in which wishes are made, others burn the bad things of the year.
The bonfire has to be jumped over 7 times to bring luck and protection all year long. At 12 o'clock, you will see that everyone joins together on the seashore to
jump over the waves (7 waves). In this way, they seek to leave the bad things behind (with fire) and welcome the good things by purifying themselves with the sea water.
The main beaches where San Juan is celebrated in Valencia are Malvarrosa and Patacona. The conditions depend on the legislation of each year. Some years the city council provides the firewood for the bonfires and, as in any Valencian celebration, fireworks cannot be missed.
If you decide to celebrate the night of San Juan in Valencia, check the public transport timetables (they are usually extended that night) and leave with plenty of time to look for parking if you are going by car.
Also, remember to leave the beach as you found it and always comply with the safety measures applied by the authorities. Some years, June 24 is a public holiday, so you can enjoy the night of San Juan without worries.
Celebrating San Juan in Port Saplaya
The celebration of San Juan in Port Saplaya may not be as crowded as on the beaches of the city of Valencia. However,
all you need is a beach and the will to spend an unforgettable San Juan night . At the
Port Saplaya Apartments you have the sea in front of you, so you can plan your celebration with the comfort of having your "home" just a few steps away.
Planes
