St John’s Bonfires , Las Hogueras de San Juan
This week coming is the San Juan week . The longest day , which is officially the summer solstice , is June 21 , however , the midsummer celebrations take place throughout most of Europe , and particularly in Spain , two days later , coinciding with St John’s (San Juan) day on June 23 . At work we closed down on Friday coming the 19 june and dont open until 24 june . some staff are takening the week off . so going two be dead next week 21 - 23 , 24 been rest day .
Legend has it that you should leap over the bonfires and make a wish . If the festival takes place on the beachs , you should then run into the sea and leap over the waves . It is also said that you should write down your heart’s desires on a piece of paper and throw it into the flames . Many locals swear by it , with some claiming that their dreams , after being reduced to ashes on San Juan night , always come true . Even if you’re not in the city of Alicante on June 23 this year , but you are in the region , head to your nearest beach , armed with your wish-list , and witness some authentic midsummer madness .
Alicante’s San Juan celebrations are perhaps some of the largest in this region , and you could be forgiven , on taking a stroll through its streets this month , for thinking the Fallas fiesta had made an early comeback . Immense papier m?ch? statues known as hogueras or fogueres , which means bonfires usually caricatures of politicians or celebrities , or satirical illustrations of newsworthy events , adorn the streets from June 20 onwards . Like the Fallas , they are set fire to at the end of the festival , but not until a day after the rest of the world celebrates San Juan in Alicante , it takes place on June 24 at midnight .
