Fiesta of Creativity and Fire in Alicante
If you wish to enjoy this fiesta, the best thing is to go to Alicante city between the 20th and 24th June. Mark June 20th through June 24th into your calendar if you plan on experiencing the annual festival of Las Hogueras de San Juan.
Where are Las Hogueras?
While celebrations and beach bonfires ("hogueras") to celebrate San Juan pop up all over Spain, the Mediterranean city of Alicante is the place to be.
Las Hogueras Traditions:
A typically exuberant Mediterranean festival, this spectacular pyrotechnic-fest reaches a climax on the 'Nit de Sant Joan', 24th June. For several days leading up to this, a party atmosphere invades the streets and the papier-mâché effigies first appear. Their fate is to be burnt later, in the 'hogueres' or bonfires. Parts of the city streets are fenced-off to form 'barracas' or meeting points, where all of the celebration's official events, both social and gastronomic, take place. Included in the celebrations are: the election of a Fire Beauty Queen, a week of bullfights and the fireworks of la mascleta - a succession of smoke bombs and firecrackers. The culmination is the burning of the effigies, which ends with fireworks on the beach and, an ancient ritual, bathing in the sea while watching the sun rise.
Las Hogueras, Alicante's most important festival, quite literally launches into action. Fireworks are set off from the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, the sprawling castle which has looked over the city for centuries, get the fiestas started with a bang.
The most famous part of Las Hogueras de San Juan is, not surprisingly, the 88 blazing "hogueras" (bonfires). Nowadays, these hogueras are detailed, colorful works of art constructed of wood and papier maché reminiscent of the massive towers of Valencia's Las Fallas. Traditionally, however, they were nothing more than piles of old junk and furniture collected during spring cleaning.
In Alicante, the "hogueras" light up the night one-by-one to the cheers of thousands, while smaller bonfires built by groups of friends dot the endless stretches of beach and reflect in the lapping waters of the Mediterranean. The night boasts a magical atmosphere full of legends and superstitions - if you want to the full experience, jump seven times around the flames and take a quick dip in the water!
While the bonfires eventually die down - today with some help of the local firemen - the ´Las Hogueras´ festival is far from over. The party continues for several days and nights as rockets blast off, fireworks illuminate the sky, parties keep the atmosphere lively 24 hours a day and parades snake noisily through the streets.
