San Juan Fiestas

Looking for a little pagan fun? June 23 is known as the Noche de San
Juan in Spain and celebrates the longest day of the year. (This is
often celebrated in northern Europe as Midsummer’s Eve: the summer
solstice on June 21.) Though the name of the holiday invokes Saint
John the Baptist and sounds very Christian, it’s roots are not, and
bonfires and revelry are traditional on this night.

In Madrid, San Juan is unofficially celebrated with bonfires in
Cornisa Park behind the basilica of San Francisco El Grande in La
Latina. An ambulance is said to be on hand for those who try and fail
to jump over the bonfires. More officially, it is celebrated by a
series of parties known collectively as the Fiestas de San Juan and
are organized by different neighborhoods in the city.

The neighborhoods of Vicálvaro, Batán, and Dehesa de la Villa are
holding their San Juan festivities from June 24 to June 27 and feature
concerts, dancing, games for children, and fireworks.

[Photo: kozumel]