Feature Articles
Festival of Sant Joan in Barcelona
The Night of Sant Joan is a popular celebration that takes place on the 23rd June, just after the longest day of the year and the Summer solstice. The city of Barcelona is at its most vibrant during, "La Nit de Sant Joan", when the streets are filled with parties and outdoor celebrations known as, "Revetlles", or ,"Verbenas".
As well as bonfires, fireworks and music, people also eat "cocas", traditional cakes as well as other sweet foods at home and around bonfires in order to ward off bad luck. In fact, much of the symbolism that surrounds the festivities of Sant Joan, including the noise and fires themselves, are intended to fend off bad spirits.
It may be one of the shortest nights of the year, but during the hours of darkness from sunset on the 23rd June through to Sant Joan's day on the 24th June, the skies are lit up with colour and fire. Every barrio of the city will have its own street celebrations that you will find hard to miss. If you would like to know where specific celebrations are in your area, see a suggested list below or check with your local Civic Centre should be able to advise you. The "Coca" cake itself is more of a sweet bread topped with pine nuts and filled with cinnamon, cherries and glazed fruits. It comes in many different forms and can also be savoury, filled with cured meats and peppers. Bakeries are brimming with a whole range of versions of this tradtional dessert at this time of year. Another feature of the Sant Joan festivities is the brightly coloured decorations and bunting which you will see hanging around the city. This includes your local stores and supermarkets, where they will most probably remain for a few weeks yet to come.
With crackers, bangers and fireworks being so liberally launched in public places, safety is obviously of key concern at this time of the year. For those of us coming from countries where fireworks are not even on sale to individuals or where public displays take place at controlled distances and even safety norms at home displays are most strictly adhered to, the wild, almost pyromaniacal, attitude of Sant Joan can be quite disconcerting. You can read a list of government safety guidelines for Sant Joan here .
If you are lucky enough to have a roof terrace or know someone who has one and is easily coerced into hosting a party, then this can may be your ideal bet for spending the evening with younger children. If not, you may just want to take the safer route by decorating your sitting room, fetching a couple of shop-bought cakes and listen to the banging and commotion from the comfort of your own home. If you are planning to get any sleep on Monday night, just remember that the rest of the city isn't so, whatever you do, don't forget those earplugs.
Street bonfires are taking place at various locations around the city including the following:
Lepant with Ribes (with party)
Revetlles or street parties are taking place at various locations around the city including the following:
Casa Orlandai
Pl. del Surtidor
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