Officially, the summer solstice is June 21st of each year, but for whatever reason (no research done here, only speculation), I suppose it is close enough to the festival for San Juan (St. John) on June 24th that someone decided to combine the two and really make it bigger.
In each region of the country, they celebrate it differently. Friends from Valencia say that the tradition is for young people to go down to the beach and jump over waves starting from midnight of the 24th. Here in Cantabria, there wasn't a lot of wave jumping, though some brave, brave souls made it into the water.
We headed out to Soto de la Marina at about 11:30pm on the 23rd, to go to San Juan de la Canal, a beach also named in honour of the saint to be celebrated, where the festivities are big and popular. Seemed like there were quite a few people, though I'm told things were crazier and bigger years ago, but there were problems one year and that put a damper on the crowds.
Anyhow, we arrived to a fun fair style party, with a big stage with someone singing cheesy songs, greasy eats in mobile trailers, stalls of jewelry and knicknacks and of course, lots of drinks and merriment.
Blue lights of the stage and lots of stalls for food and shopping
The big bonfire was to be lit at midnight, so we headed over to check it out before it all went up in smoke. It was a big pile of planks, cardboard, chairs etc, and really looked like the leftovers of an unsuccessful garage sale.
Before they lit the whole mess ablaze--can you identify any household items?
At midnight, a few folks brandishing flaming sticks stepped up to the pile and set it all ablazing. Not much later, the fire was roaring and emitting an intense amount of heat. I swear it felt like 35C or more on my face....as if the sun was blazing, or I had stuck my head into an oven. We were sweltering despite being a reasonable distance away.
Admiring and observing the force of it all
Sprinklers go off to give a bit of a reprieve
After watching it roar away for a while, they started the fireworks, which were really cool and gave beautiful colours to the sky, along with the fire. Then we wandered down towards the water, where we saw lots of crazy people going for a dip with the fireworks zipping around above them. Very beautiful, but so insane to think of even stepping into the chilly waters just a bit before 1am. There were lots of beachgoers who came up to the fire in their bathing suits, to dry off and maybe get a tan, ha.
Took me a few tries to get this nice shot :)
Fireworks over the sea as brave people go for a dip
While taking more photos, a photographer that was clicking away nearby came over and asked to take my photo. Or rather, he asked Ruben if I wouldn't mind, because he wanted a shot of a Japanese girl interested in Spanish culture. ;) I didn't hear him say it, but really, I'm not surprised. Anyhow, my little picture made it into a regional paper here, and edition number one that came on Friday, of all things! :) It's my little step into Spanish stardom....hehehe....
When we left it was past 1am and the fire was still going strong. I wonder how long it took to burn away completely at the end?
The sky lit up by the blazing fire
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