Hogueras de San Juan
Someone asked me about going to Valencia and it reminded me of this festival. People staying after the wedding might be interested in going to Alicante for the “Hogueras de San Juan” Festival. Here’s what a Spanish culture website in English has to say about it:
- Hogueras de San Juan
June 20 to June 29. Alicante, Valencia.
A series of ancient rituals which were followed on this, the shortest night of the year, when light triumphs over darkness, have been studied in minute detail in the work of Baroja. In these rituals, the essential features are the sun, fire and water. Around the feast of San Juan the streets are often decorated with branches and leaves, especially the balconies of young girls in love, who are serenaded; pines and poplars are planted; pilgrimages (‘romerias’) are undertaken; straw effiges are burnt; the herb thyme is blessed; and ‘sanjuanera’ songs are sung.
I would guess there will be plenty of late night drinking, dancing and fun, as there is at most Spanish festivals. Book a hotel room ahead of time though–in my experience it gets hard to find one with festivals, they’re really popular with tourists as well as people from other parts of Spain.
Vicente de Prada said,
June 7, 2008 at 3:04 am
EXPO anyone?
Another idea to spend a day on your trip to Spain.
The Expo-2008 opens at Zaragoza on June the 14th.
The theme is “Water and Sustainable Development”
You can check the web page at:
http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/index.jsp?seccion=47&seccionRaiz=47&seccionDesplegar=48&idioma=en_GB
There is a High Speed train service (AVE) from Madrid To Zaragoza, so if you are an early riser, you might even consider to make a one day trip:
– Take the 6.40 AM train, from Madrid Atocha station (it’s up to you to figure
out how to get there that early from Toledo).
– The AVE arrives to Zarazoza at 7.48 AM.
– Spend the day at the Expo, (don’t forget to get tickets in advance)
– And return with the 10.32PM train, that arrives to Madrid at 11.57PM.
Joaco said,
June 17, 2008 at 7:44 am
Check this up to see photos of the Expo.
http://picasaweb.google.es/Yeki.house/ExpoDiaDeCarga
Looks kinda cool, but beware AVEs (trains) are always full to Zaragoza.