Noche de San Juan
Eva Juarez © Todos los derechos reservados
Noche de San Juan is celebrated to welcome the summer in Spain. It is a festival of pagan origin, since it is supposed to be dedicated to the worship of the sun. The beach is the epicentre of the festive events, where people make bonfires, and some young people run and jump over small bonfires. Currently, music performances and batucadas, African-influenced drumming performances, have become a trend on the beaches of Motril.
The people from Motril and the visitors spend the night at the beach with family or friends, many of them following the old tradition of getting into the water at midnight.
During these days, it is very typical to eat the traditional cazuela de San Juan, a dessert or snack of pumpkin and spices.
Traditionally, this night, the eve of the 24th of June is called Noche de San Juan, since the 24th of June is San Juan Bautista's Day in Spain. But there are other names to call this night and festivity such as night of the summer solstice, night of the fire or night of witches in Spanish.
This is was orignally considered to be a night of changes, since it was believed that problems and difficulties arisen in the winter were left behind: the bad weather, the cold, the hunger, etc.
Also, it was believed that witches and sorcerers would come out at night and put spells on the people, since their powers were specially strong this night.
This was called the shortest night of the year, which is actually true. This is usually the night when we have fewer hours of darkness and therefore more hours of sunlight, even though it may vary a few days before or after this night depending on the year.
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Date: the eve of 24 June (Midsummer Night).
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