In the week before Sant Joan hundreds of volunteers carry the flame from the Pyrenees to city councils, county councils and cultural organizations in more than 350 municipalities in the “ Països Catalans” which include the Catalan areas of France. At dawn on 23 June every year a fire is lit using the flame on the peak of Canigò and from there the flame is spread throughout the Catalan regions of France and Spain to light the fires of Sant Joan. The original flame is kept alive in the kitchen the museum of Casa Pairal by the Castellet de Perpinyàin. The tradition of the flame of Canigò was started in 1955 as a symbol of Catalan culture. “Qui encén foc per Sant Joan no es crema en tot l’any” means “He who lights the fire for Sant Joan will not burn all year.” The most important element of the festival of Sant Joan is fire. The traditonal flame to light the bonfires is called “ La Flama del Canigó” – “the flame of Canigò.” It comes from the peak of a holy mountain called Canigò (2784 m) in the Pyrenees mountains. Sant Joan traditions: Fire, “La Flama del Canigó” Fire was celebrated on this day as the symbol of abundance, purity and fertility and to this day fire and fireworks are one of the central elements in the Festival of Sant Joan with fireworks and bonfires illluminating the skies of Barcelona. The summer solstice was considered the most important event of the solar year in ancient times. Midsummer solstice is a tradition from ancient times. The fiestas are also called “verbenas” or “revetllas,” which means open-air fiestas or celebrations. The Sant Joan festival is often called “La Nit de Sant Joan” – the night of Saint John. The Sant Joan festivals and fiestas are from sunset on 23/6 to sunrise on 24/6 on the eve of Saint John’s day. According to the traditions of the festival, anyone who jumps over a bonfire three times during the night of Sant Joan, will be cleansed and purified, and their problems will be burned away. The bonfire preparation is done days in advance, and it’s something that people of all ages take part in, and look forward to. It is said that the night of the 23 rd of June is the shortest night of the year and the night of fire and witches.ĭuring this festival, les Fogeres de Sant Joan, or the bonfires of Saint John, are lit in cities all around Spain, especially on the beaches of costal areas. Sant Joan in Barcelona is one of the greatest nights during the year.
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