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San Juan in Dénia: fogueres, acts, rites and other traditions of the Nit de Sant Joan

23 June 2023 - 11: 44

The beginning of summer is marked by the celebration of the Nit de Sant Joan. In the beaches of Dénia (and many other towns in the region and the Valencian Community), it was common to see thousands of people gathering every year around the bonfires made in the sand. This is how the arrival of the new season was traditionally celebrated until a few years ago.

When is celebrated?

The day of San Juan is June 24, so the magical night in which the beaches are filled is the day before, the night of the 23rd. Originally the festival was associated with the celebration of the summer solstice, despite the fact that this is June 21st.

Rituals to welcome summer

There are many traditions and rituals around the Nit de Sant Joan. There are some that are centuries old, others have been incorporated in recent years.

Can you make bonfires on the beach?

Among the most popular rituals, it stands out jump the fire of the bonfire. In fact, it is very common, even tradition, to see the beaches full of groups of families and friends around bonfires. Fire usually stars in the coastal landscape, but is it allowed?

The truth is that for years it has been forbidden to make bonfires along the entire coastline. In fact, the police remember every June that anyone who tries to light a fire on the beach will be sanctioned and special devices are developed to reinforce surveillance.

bath at midnight

The traditional first bath of the summer that takes place at midnight is also widespread. Hence, that night the groups meet to have dinner on the beach, to be close to the water. Some jump seven waves for luck, others are content to get their feet wet for that purpose.

Chinese lanterns and pyrotechnics

In recent years, the use of rockets and other pyrotechnic elements to accompany the celebration has become popular. In addition, the custom of releasing floating or Chinese lanterns, which are candles that float in the air, has reached our coast. However, the use of all this is prohibited when there is a fire risk alert, something common during the time in question.

Festivities in the hermitage of Sant Joan

The festival of San Juan has always been widely celebrated in the hermitage in honor of the saint, in the Natural Park Montgó. Every year, the festival commission organizes a program of traditional events between June 20 and 24, which brings together festival-goers, friends and neighbors from the area in the hermitage.

The acts usually begin on June 20 and during all those days a pilgrimage, popular lunches and dinners, and parties at night, as well as religious acts.

Fogueres of Dénia

Until a few years ago Fogueres de Sant Joan (Hogueras de San Juan) were planted in Dénia, as is the case in Alacant and other municipalities in the province. These monuments were much less numerous than the Fallas and they also used to be smaller and spectacular. They burned the night of June 24. But this tradition has been disappearing and now the bonfire partygoers continue to gather but the monuments have been relegated to something anecdotal. The only bonfire that is still standing in 2023 is located on Amparo Merle street.

Photos

Comments
  1. Monika Just says:

    Please also ban ALL fireworks at parties. In times of fire danger An Important Thing!!

  2. Heinz says:

    LONG LIVE THE PROHIBITIONS!!!

    Of course, to throw away all the garbage you want, that is why they do not put drones, nor do they fine. The device is to control the fire that will be made on the entire peninsular coast, except in Denia. The device is not to control the garbage that pigs do. Despite the fact that the next day they are going to proceed to clean the beach.

    That if it says, dead the dog, the rage is over.

  3. Patrick says:

    Hello all.

    Fires on the beach have never bothered me. On the contrary, it is something special that is done once a year. And it reminds me of my youth, in which that was normal like many other things that today look bad. In my opinion, laws and ordinances have been created that have been decided by a few and not the majority. If the fires and smoke bother so much, why do the fallas keep burning? In my opinion they are much more harmful than some wood on the beach. But that's just my opinion.

    As for cleaning, I agree with everyone, you have to leave the site as you found it. It is simple education that some have and others do not.

    Have a Good wekend!

  4. Luis says:

    The best thing about this celebration is the cleaning team, without them we would not be able to enjoy those beaches the next day. Thank you.

  5. Loam says:

    A referendum is the best, democracy is the best possible way known to date, to decide any issue, that of bous a la mar as well.
    Traditions and morals change, evolve and adapt, fortunately, any type of animal abuse must be ruled out, suffering, anguish, pain, fear, if you don't like it for yourself, don't inflict it on an animal either, in the 21st century that's days are numbered no matter where you look at it, reflect, you would do that to your dog. Let's go ahead and do it by will and not by imposition, tourists will value it positively without any doubt, and anyone with a little conscience too. Thanks.

  6. Carol says:

    Hello neighbors:
    I agree that NO BONFIRES ARE BUILT
    YOU CANNOT ENJOY OR BREATHE WITH SO MUCH FIRE AND SMOKE
    The tradition is to spend this night with family and friends, dining, dancing, singing and having a good time by the sea, the rest is left over, always dirtying and bothering with junk, smoke, fires... the disgusting silver of crap... let them go to burn and dirty where they consent...

    Applause for clean and know-how on this occasion

    FUN, is NOT at all incompatible with good work, cleanliness, without smoke and without leaving a trace, without damaging Nature

    Greetings to everyone and enjoy it in a better way than if those barbarities were allowed

    The rest is from foolish and too selfish and daring subjects ... who learn to have fun, WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE

    • El says:

      A fire is for one reason only, that is, to eradicate the bad spirits of the past, but definitely not to leave a trace or harm the day that everyone should welcome and enjoy


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