The official beginning of the summer is just around the corner – precisely, it takes place on the beach on the 23rd of June, the shortest night of the year.
Valencians celebrate the night of San Juan with bonfires on the beaches, of which the most famous are Playa las Arenas, Playa Patacona and Playa Malvarosa. Apart from making hundreds of bonfires on the sand, thousands of people go to the beaches and join the concerts in the area or create their own ones. Singing, dancing, swimming and celebrating are the words that summarize San Juan experience.
The night of San Juan has got a pagan origin. Spanish believe that this night is magical and fire and water are elements which help to make your deepest wishes come true. All you need to do is follow San Juan´s rituals. Let us share some of them with you.
Numbers and love
Although seven is the terrifying number of deadly sins, it’s also the magical number here in Valencia and Alicante. This is how many times you will need to jump over a bonfire to get the protection which this special night brings.
If you follow the beliefs, this night can be the answer for all your problems. If you don’t feel like jumping over a bonfire 7 times, you can do it only three times and get a fresh start for your life. But, please, be careful while doing so.
After the rituals with fire, you should get into the water. First of all, water itself washes all the negative energy away and jumping over nine waves brings good health. Just some tips – remember to jump backwards and do not look into the mirror this night. According to pagan beliefs, the reflection breaks the good vibe and all the desired outcomes of the rituals with it.
Are you in love with Valencia but still haven´t found your other half? Well, San Juan´s night has got a cure for everything. You will need to get back home before the midnight so you can follow other ritual to charm the love of your life. You just need to write down your name and his/her name and hide it under the pillow. To make the trick really work, two red candles have to be lit in your room.
Don´t have a crush on anyone? This is not a problem either. Instead of the name of your chosen one, you can write down 2 initials: A.G. coming from “alma gemela” which means “soulmate”.
San Juan´s Kit
Now when we have told you how to use the shortest night of the year to get your life back on track or to improve its quality, we provide you just a quick check list.
Don´t forget to bring food and drinks and enjoy this night responsibly. You might want to bring your own seat or maybe a blanket to get cosy next to a bonfire.
And remember – there will be traffic restrictions to access the beaches by car. Our recommendation is to park before entering the beach zone and continue on foot. Alternatively, you might want consider public transport or taxi for safety reasons.
“Moving to Valencia” team wishes you happy San Juan in the place you love with the ones you love. And let the magic work on your behalf this night!
I love this!,,, thank you for posting such a descriptive experience, Janis.