Wednesday, June 22, 2005

San Juan

On the night of the 23rd of June, Spain celebrates 'San Juan'.
It is the celebration of the arrival of the summer, on the shortest night of the year. On midnight, bonfires are being lit all over the countryside and people dance around them, set off fireworks and go swimming in the sea.
In southern cities like Alicante, the celebration is being held for several days, and beautiful, enormous wooden figures are being created which go up in flames on the night of San Juan.
It is a night full of traditions and superstitions.


These are some of the superstitions of San Juan:
  • If you get up early on the 24th, you won't feel tired for the rest of the year.
  • If you sit down underneath a fig tree with a guitar on the night of San Juan, you will learn to play it immediately.
  • If you write down the things you want to forget and burn the paper on this night, you will have good luck for the rest of the year.
  • If you bath in the dew of the night, you will be blessed for the rest of the year.
  • If you are single and you look out of the window on the morning of the 24th, you will see the love of your life passing by.
  • If you bath nude in the sea, lean backwards and watch the moon, you will be able to work miracles.

Update:
I bet this guy sat under the fig tree with his ukelele on the night of San Juan. This makes me want to start learning how to play the guitar again. Wonderful.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

are you guys going to do some skinny dippin'? miricles huh? I would! :D

Anonymous said...

Haha, that's awesome.

Hmm, first superstition shouldn't be a problem. The second last one is a little more difficult, as my window looks out to a WALL. Grrr.

if you're celebrating it, have fun! :)