Saint John's Day festival in Spain see also overview of traditional festivals in Spain

The festival of John the Baptist San Juan in Spanish, Sant Joan in Catalan – whose birthday, June 24 coincides with Midsummer’s Day, offering an excuse for a series of summer festivals all over Spain.

Midsummer-related festivals, traditions and celebrations, many of which are pre-Christian in origin have been Christianised as celebrating the Nativity of St. John the Baptist as " Saint John's Day". Although some say it is a pagan midsummer ritual where revellers use fire and light to mark the shortest day of the year. Either way, it’s the time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness – and that inevitably means staying up throughout the night.

Festival with foreworks in Spain

In Spain, fire is a key element of the San Juan festivals – a symbol of the conquering of light. Hogueras in Alicante hosts a festival where bonfires are light on Midsummer’s Eve across the city. The festival is similar to the ‘Las Falas’ festival held in March in nearby Velencia. Elaborate puppets are built called ‘ninots’ These puppets can cost thousands of euros but are thrown on the flames at midnight, except for one saved from the flames by a popular vote

Throughout Spain – in Torrevieja near Alicante in Barcelona itself and even in the more touristy areas such as Lloret de Mar – locals head to the beach on the evening of June 23 to light bonfires enjoy barbecues and dancing and, perhaps in recognition of John the Baptist, stay up all night for an early morning Swim