Night of San Juan in Barcelona 2019: Festivals, Bonfires and Where to stay

 

The night of San Juan is one of the most special nights in Barcelona. Here below, you can read the program of this year 2019 with recommendations on where to stay at Fisa Rentals apartments.

 

In San Juan are celebrated the summer solstice and the shortest night of the year.

 

However, to be sincere, on that night neither one thing nor the other happen.

 

And why is that? Because when the Church adopted this pagan festival, it chose to delay it a little in the calendar until it coincides with the birth of San Juan Baptista, the night of June 23rd to 24th.

 

 

 

On the night of San Juan, the festivals have an added incentive which is fire. Bonfires that aim to burn everything old: furniture, notes, magazines ...

 

They are organized by the City Council, in each of the 10 districts of the city, and others of private or associative initiative, although always with the corresponding permits, of course.

 

However, last year 33 bonfires and some 60 free concerts were scheduled.

 

Another very important element in the symbolism of the night of San Juan is water. For this reason, people from Barcelona traditionally used to bath at midnight in Barceloneta to purify themselves.

 

Nowadays, as many of the biggest parties happen around, unfortunately both sand and water are usually very dirty.

 

If you feel like going to the beach on the following day, you can check here the list of the best beaches in the surroundings of Barcelona.

 

 

 

Traditions. The tradition of the "Flama del Canigó", or "Flame of the Canigó" in English, is a young ritual but with deep roots. Since 1955, every year the llamas stored in a Perpinyà castle are collected and moved to the top of the Canigó mountain. Afterwards, that same fire is shared by all the Catalan populations through volunteers: on foot, by car, by bike ...

 

If you want to see how it arrives in Barcelona, show up at 6.30pm on the Plaza de Sant Jaume.

 

The firecrackers. Festivals, fire, water ... and firecrackers! In the booths that you will find scattered during the previous days throughout the city you will see that the options are practically unlimited.

Although, beware, firemen keep saying that "these are a very dangerous toys". So if you are new is this or you have small children it is better to start with the "bombetas" or the "bengalas” (“flares" in English).

 

Coca and cava. What does go hand-in-hand with San Juan's night are the cocas (sweet flatbreads): from llardons (something more rigid) or glazed fruits and pine nuts with custard, custard, chocolate, etc.

 

Come what may, in order to digest the dessert, you have to drink a lot of cava, a very typical drink from the land that has traditionally compared to French Champagne.

 

Cinema scenery. More and more people go to the Carmelbunkers on the night of San Juan to have a 360º view of Barcelona. The truth is that on clear days without pollution is a spectacle of firecrackers and fireworks.