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The Feast of Sant Joan is one of the most exciting times
of the year to be in Barcelona.
At the start of summer, there is already
a feeling of excitement in the air.
This is magnified ten fold on this electric night
when the streets are filled with both young and old,
making the most of the feast day celebrations.
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The Feast of Sant Joan celebrates the start of the summer. It is the longest day of the year and what is known as the Summer Solstice in England. It is one of the most important feast days for Catalans and is celebrated throughout the city. The idea is that on the night of Sant Joan the sun reaches its highest point, before beginning to drop. The sun is seen as a symbol of fertility and wealth and so it must be given strength. The strength is provided by bonfires and fireworks lit throughout the city for Sant Joan.
There are said to be three symbols of Sant Joan - fire, water and herbs. Fire symbolises purity, and for this reason fires are lit. Water symbolises healing. Therefore, on this night, in some areas people bathe in the sea. Herbs symbolise remedy and some claim that for the night of Sant Joan their healing qualities are enhanced one hundred times over. These are often picked on the night of Sant Joan.
Sant Joan is often described by Catalans as the 'Nit del Foc' - meaning the 'Night of Fire'. The main aspect to the celebrations is fireworks. In the days leading up to the celebrations you will see temporary fireworks shops open up throughout the city, with queues down the street. Many groups of families and friends organise their own parties - known as 'Revetlles'. Barcelona is a city made up of balconies and terraces, therefore those with the largest balcony or the best views of the city invite friends and family to watch fireworks, eat and dance the night away.
If you do not have a friend's party to go to, the most common place for people to head to for Sant Joan is the beach. Barceloneta beach begins filling up during the early evening on 23 June, with groups who bring picnics and cava to watch the fireworks displays and listen to the music playing in the chiringuitos (beach bars). Groups of musicians and drummers also gather to provide the soundtrack to the evening's events.
During the early part of the evening the local restaurants along the beachfront put out extra tables, chairs and decorations. The restaurants are popular with the locals, who start the night with a large dinner - lining their stomachs for the long night of drinking and dancing that lies ahead.
The only official food of Sant Joan is called the 'Coque'. These are bread style cakes that you will see in bakery windows throughout the city. There are various types available - both sweet and savoury. Some contain crackling, fruit and nuts or cream. The one ingredient that they all share in common is anise - giving all of the Coques a distinctive aniseed flavour.
