The festival of Sant Joan
The festival of Sant Joan is approaching. For many the night of 23rd June means the start of summer. The origin of this festival is pagan but the Catholic Church adopted it to celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist.. It is a festival in honour of the sun, which on that day is at its highest point: it’s said that a standing stick at noon casts no shadow! In Catalonia the celebration of Sant Joan is one of the most important of the year. Families and friends get together to spend the shortest night of the year together. The traditions and rituals around this night are different in each territory, but fire is the common element. Bonfires, fireworks and firecrackers are the protagonists of the night. Also bathing in the sea at midnight, so the beaches are also filled with people on this special night. The typical sweet of this festival is the Coca de San Juan, a dough made of flour, butter and eggs that can be ...
