Saint John´s eve Empuriabrava 2019

Between the 23rd and the 24th of June of each year, Empuriabrava joins the festival of Saint John. The magical night, which is the shortest of the year, welcomes summer.

The prelude to the summer season is celebrated with fireworks on the beach, where tourists and locals gather to share and enjoy the atmosphere while listening to Havana on the seashore. In Empuriabrava, as well as in the rest of Catalonia, everyone enjoys some burned rum or a good cava while watching the bonfires and pyrotechnics. Of course, there is never a lack of "coca", a sweet bread with custard and candied fruit served while the Canigó Flame arrives. People entertain themselves until late in the morning listening to music and dancing to the rhythm.

This farewell to spring is a party that dates back to 5000 BC. One of the stories of its origin states the celebration of San Joan is related to a legend. The Sun, who was in love with Earth, refused to abandon it. To encourage and strengthen the Sun, human beings decided to light fires. In this way, the Sun would become stronger and be purified while it was helped with its journey through the heavens. This is how this legend also corresponds to the superstition that evil spirits can be driven away by the element of fire. The ritual is also supposed to attract good vibrations of love and fertility to everyone involved.

However, the origin of this festival also dates back to the birth of Saint John Baptiste. According to the sacred text of the Bible, the bonfires that are lit during midnight between June 23rd and 24th announce the arrival of the son of Zacarias. The bonfire was the instrument through which the arrival of the Baptist would be announced to the four winds.

In this way, the night of Saint John is both a Christian and a pagan celebration and it is an excellent excuse to end the academic year and take advantage of the good weather to go out on the streets and enjoy the heat of the first summer days.

In almost every place in Spain, a doll is burned at the stake and in Empuriabrava, you spend the night in any of its three magnificent beaches: La Rubina, San Comes and the one that bears the same name as the community. Many decide to dine in the moonlight, while others prefer to adhere to other traditions, such as taking a bath when midnight arrives, to attract good luck.