You’re in Malaga province, so sardines barbecued on a skewer or ‘espetos’ are the order of the day. Up the coast in Almuñécar a traditional food for San Juan is a ‘bollo’, a hard-boiled egg wrapped in bread. The idea is you take it onto the beach with you as an ideal picnic-style snack.
Full Answer
What happens at midnight in San Juan?
At midnight, a very special moment of San Juan begins. This is the releasing of wishes, or juras, into the flames of the bonfires. You’ll see people with pieces of paper, scratching down their wishes and all that they hope to release with the arrival of the new season.
What are some fun things to do in San Juan?
Including dancing, barbecues, music, performers and fireworks. Sabinillas always puts a lot of effort in to San juan with their fun creations of cartoon characters that they light on fire and dance around until the sun comes out. Including dancing, barbecues, music, performers and fireworks.
What are the rituals of San Juan?
Wherever you are, the rituals linked to San Juan in Spain are all to do with fire and water. People might burn something old to represent a new start, swim in the ocean to purify their soul, or drink from fountains, which some believe take on magical healing properties on the night.
What is the festival of San Juan in Spain?
Each region of Spain has a different twist on how they celebrate it, however they all incorporate bonfires, good food and drink, and great friends. Basically, it is as good a reason as any to party. The festival of San Juan is held on the eve of June 23 and lasts until the wee hours of June 24th.
How do people celebrate La Noche de San Juan?
The tradition goes that at the stroke of midnight, people take at least three backward plunges – though some do seven or 12 dives, to rid life of all negativity. To celebrate like a local, head to your preferred beach early and ensure you get a great spot near the shore.
Is La Noche de San Juan celebrated in the night?
Noche de San Juan (St John's Night) is a major celebration here in Puerto Rico that takes place on the night of June 23. Family and friends gather on beaches all around the island to celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist.
What do Spaniards do during La Noche de San Juan?
La Noche de San Juan, or San Juan Night, is a festival marked by ritual and celebrated throughout Spain commemorating the shortest night and longest day of the year. Each region of Spain has a different twist on how they celebrate it, however they all incorporate bonfires, good food and drink, and great friends.
What does El Dia de San Juan celebrate?
In Catholicism, June 24 is the feast day of St. John the Baptist. According to tradition this day marks the beginning of the monsoon season.
Why do you walk backwards into the ocean?
In Puerto Rico, tradition holds that walking backwards towards the beach and then jumping backwards into the water at exactly midnight brings good luck and keeps evil away throughout the year.
Can I go to the beach at night in Puerto Rico?
It's not recommended that you walk ANY beach in San Juan after dark. There have been many problems on the beaches at night. If you are walking in a larger group that includes men, you should be fine, but every single hotel kicks people off the beach at sunset.
Is San Juan a religious festival?
The Spanish tribute to the summer solstice is the Fiesta of San Juan (St John the Baptist), celebrated each year on the night of June 23rd. This is not a traditional, religious festival when effigies are paraded through the streets.
Do Spanish people celebrate bonfire night?
Bonfire Night in Spain can be one of the most exciting nights of the year. There are loads of Guy Fawkes events in Spain and no matter what the weather's like, you can always be sure a firework party in Spain will always draw in a big crowd.
How is Carnaval celebrated in Spain?
In Spain, carnival usually begins with a pregón, an opening speech by an important local person or a celebrity. After the speech, the days of street parades, costume contests, street theater, and general partying begin.
What are traditions in Puerto Rico?
Many Puerto Ricans will attend a midnight mass known as Misa de Gallo, where they welcome Christmas as a commemoration of the birth of Jesus. Some churches even reenact the Nativity scene. The holiday menu in Puerto Rico includes local favorites like pernil, arroz con gandules, pasteles, tembleque, and arroz con dulce.
What is the festival of San Juan in Venezuela?
Fiesta de San Juan Primarily a Christian festival in honor of St. John the Baptist's birth, Fiesta de San Juan is three exciting days of African drums resounding among the coastal towns of Venezuela.
Why does Puerto Rico celebrate Three Kings?
Three Kings' Day, also known as Epiphany or Dia de los Reyes Magos, is a celebration of the three kings who brought gifts to Jesus when he was born. For most people in Puerto Rico, preparations for Three Kings Day begin as soon as Christmas ends.
When is San Juan?
The festival of San Juan is held on the eve of June 23 and lasts until the wee hours of June 24th. It traditionally marks the beginning of the summer solstice and has its roots in pagan rituals. The elements of fire, water and light are all embedded in the tradition. Massive bonfires are built on the beaches in Marbella and the Costa del Sol, ...
Where are Torremolinos celebrated?
torremolinos. Torremolinos has big events every year celebrated in San Juan and Catarranzas. Benalmádena celebrates San Juan on their beaches at Castillo del Bil-Bil as well as in the town center with street fair.
What beach in Puerto Banus has a big fire?
La Playa del Cable has a big fire put on by the city. Levante beach in Puerto Banus has a huge evening. Including dancing, barbecues, music, performers and fireworks. Private parties are organized by places like Nikki Beach & Ocean Club.
What is the shortest night of the year?
La Noche de San Juan, or San Juan Night, is a festival marked by ritual and celebrated throughout Spain commemorating the shortest night and longest day of the year.
What are the activities of Sabinillas and Manilva?
Including dancing, barbecues, music, performers and fireworks.
Is La Noche de San Juan good for you?
It is also considered good for the skin and may heal certain skin conditions. According to mythology there are strange things that happen on the shortest night of the year. Pagan gods, for example, may appear at night, while mere mortals must give thanks and become conscious that harder times are to come. All in all, La Noche de San Juan is ...
Is Noche de San Juan a festival?
All in all, La Noche de San Juan is a festival that should not be missed. It is really awe inspiring to see the haze of hundreds of fires burning on the beach, masses of people enter the water simultaneously and feel at one with the locals in their joy and festive spirit.
What is la Noche de San Juan
So what exactly is la Noche de San Juan? In short, it can be described as the traditional welcoming of summer seen along every beach in costal Spain on the night of the 23rd of June .
What to expect
Expect the unexpected. No matter where you are celebrating along the coast, it will be a special experience, but overall it is the people you are with that will define your night. Head to San Juan with friends, family, or join a party of beach-goers.
The arrival of the summer solstice
At midnight, a very special moment of San Juan begins. This is the releasing of wishes, or juras, into the flames of the bonfires. You’ll see people with pieces of paper, scratching down their wishes and all that they hope to release with the arrival of the new season.
What to bring to the celebrations
If you are celebrating in city centre areas, you will have all you need if you bring a bathing suit, towel or blanket, and a pen and paper to write down your wishes. Along beaches near cities, you can buy drinks and food at one of Málaga's best chiringuitos. Music and free concerts also tend to be organized nearby.
Why you should celebrate la Noche de San Juan
There’s nothing like seeing hundreds of people running toward the sea to have a midnight swim together in the Mediterranean: participating in this is something you need to do at least once in your lifetime.
Where to celebrate la Noche de San Juan
Places to celebrate la Noche de San Juan are vast and any city along the coast will be hosting a party . On this night you’ll definitely notice that there are more people around and that they are migrating in packs to beaches with the necessities for an evening of fun. Follow the crowds and you'll find the celebrations.
When is Noche de San Juan?
La Noche de San Juan, or Saint John’s Night, is celebrated annually on the night of June 23. To take part in this tradition, all you need to do is get yourself to a beach, be prepared to stay up late and get wet. Are you ready to get lucky?
Why is Puerto Rico called San Juan?
The whole island of Puerto Rico was originally called San Juan in honor of Saint John the Baptist, while the small island of what is now Old San Juan was originally called Puerto Rico (or Rich Port ). But confusion over the name led to a switch to the names that we use today. But Saint John the Baptist ( San Juan Bautista) is still ...
How do people celebrate St John the Baptist's birthday?
Saint John the Baptist’s birthday is June 24th, so every year people celebrate his birthday with traditions. In Puerto Rico, at exactly midnight between June 23 and 24, on the eve of his birth, people walk backward into the ocean and fall backwards into it. They do this 3 times in a row. The water is said to be "blessed", so dipping into it is supposed to clean you of the bad things so as to bring good luck or at least help ward off evil throughout the year. Some people will do flips in the water … I don’t really get that. Some people also do more than 3 dunkings (7 or 12 are the other usual number of dunkings). It is all in good fun and everyone is welcome to join in, whether you believe in the tradition or not.
Is San Juan Bautista the patron saint of Puerto Rico?
But Saint John the Baptist ( San Juan Bautista) is still the patron saint of Puerto Rico and its capital city, San Juan.
Is the beach in San Juan open?
The balnearios and public beaches are open for the fun, too. Isla Verde, Ocean Park (especially the Ultimo Trolley beach), Condado, Carolina and even Escambron are usually the busiest places. If the 23rd happens to be a weekend, be prepared for days and nights of parties (especially in the San Juan area). Some beaches actually have concerts and organized events for the festivities.
When is Noche de San Juan in Spain?
What is La Noche de San Juan in Spain? San Juan’s, or St John’s, feast day falls on the 24 th of June every year, but it’s on St John’s eve, the 23 rd of June, that the celebrations take place. Just a few short days after midsummer, it’s a Spanish festival celebrated on beaches all over the country that welcomes the summer ahead.
What do people do in San Juan?
Wherever you are, the rituals linked to San Juan in Spain are all to do with fire and water. People might burn something old to represent a new start, swim in the ocean to purify their soul, or drink from fountains, which some believe take on magical healing properties on the night.
Why do people celebrate bonfires in San Juan?
The bonfires of San Juan are said to purify and protect, warding off evil spirits. Some people celebrate with family, some with friends, and some make new friends on the beach, but there’s always food, drink and music involved. Some places are busier than others for these celebrations, one of the most popular festivals in Spain, ...
Do you need a towel for Spanish night?
You will, however, need your swimming costume and a towel. Make sure to take a warm layer with you, as although Spanish nights are typically very warm by this time of year, you’d be surprised at how chilly it can get on the coast.