Feast of San Juan (Midsummer day)

Midsummer day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Feast of San Juan)
Jump to: navigation, search
For other holidays of the summer solstice (Northern Hemisphere) Summer Solstice see.
Midsummer day

Midsummer in Helsinki 2005.
International Day Venue
La Noche de San Juan (the Baptist) is a very ancient festival which celebrates the arrival of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere whose principal rite is a fire. The purpose of this rite was "give more power to the sun, which from that time, was becoming" weaker ", the days are getting shorter until the winter solstice. Symbolically, the fire also has a function "purifying" the people who watched him. This festival is celebrated in many parts of Europe, but is especially strong in Spain, Portugal (São João Fogueiras), Norway (Jonsok), Denmark (Sankthans), Sweden (midsummer), Finland (Juhannus) and UK (Midsummer) . In South America, Brazil is Festas Juninas, Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela the night of San Juan. The Night of San Juan is as well, linked to ancient traditions and legends Spanish and the Legend of the Enchanted.

In most places where it is celebrated today continues the original tradition in Spain and Portugal but has lost some of its meaning. Usually made bonfires in the streets and squares where people meet friends and family. Note that the feast is celebrated in Spain from 23 night to June 24, but actually the shortest night of the year, which corresponds to the summer-solstice is June 21. In some areas of the European Atlantic and England, also celebrated the 28th (the eve of San Pedro) a similar celebration.

Contents [hide]
1 Spain
1.1 Andalucía
Canary 1.2
Cantabria 03.01
Castilla y León 1.4
1.5 Catalonia
1.5.1 "Verbena de San Juan"
Valencia 06/01
1.6.1 The Bonfires of San Juan in Alicante
1.6.1.1 History
1.6.1.2 Conclusion
1.7 Galicia
1.7.1 Bonfires of San Juan Galicia
1.8 Basque Country
1.8.1 Bonfires of San Juan in the Basque Country
2 In America
2.1 Argentina
2.2 Bolivia
2.3 Chile
2.4 Colombia
Panama 2.5
2.6 Paraguay
2.7 Peru
2.8 Puerto Rico
Venezuela 2.9
3 References
4 See also
5 External links


Spain
Andalusia
In Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz) has a local tradition called "the bull of fire", which consists of a crowd that runs in front of a bull made of tin sheds fireworks, and fire worship. Furthermore, this village has the peculiarity of not calling bonfires burning candles but San Juan.

In other towns along the coast of Cadiz burned rag doll called Juanillo. It is also sometimes throw fireworks and street parties are assembled during part of the night [1].

In Isla Cristina and other points on the Huelva coast is celebrated this event with the most common name of bonfires of San Juan.

In Malaga and Almeria on the day after the Night of San Juan is local holiday. This is a very popular festival is celebrated with moragas and bonfires on the beach overnight.

Canary Islands
In Punta del Hidalgo, on the island of Tenerife, is celebrated the night of 23 June, the feast of San Juan (which called San Juanito pointers). Before dusk, a group of young collects the saint of the village church and shoulders to move to a place on the shores of the sea which they call "the Guigo. Rondallas accompanied villagers, in rosemary walk, stopping at the rate of sips of wine, lies this small coastal image in the chapel. There are fires burning done as evening falls between binges and spells.

In Puerto de la Cruz also celebrated the night of San Juan. The tradition is the burning of bonfires on the beach mixed with the trappings of the typical jet municipality. For many years held in Playa Jardín conmemorción to this day after a concert with fireworks. The day of San Juan, 24 June, it produces the so-called bath goats at Pier fishing in the tourist resort of Tenerife.

Cantabria
In Cantabria, still preserved ancient practices typical of this magical night: Jump over the fires, the ashes still burning step, dance around, pass them along to the "cabin" or carry the fire through the fields culture of the people to purify the harvest.

Traditionally, during the development of this festival took advantage to woo the "mozucas" of each of the towns, as was the custom of "fronds", put branches of poplar or alder and attractive appearance in the window of that girl who wanted to honor, to be interesting disputes between young people who of them had the most beautiful bouquet, besides the ritual does not end there floral, but in the center of town would place a large bouquet or even a tree-style celebration of the Feast of the Maya (now held in Pujayo, Silió or Tresviso).

It is a night when the legends of the mountain are the "Devil's Caballucos." Such legends give these people the power to spoil the party for the dancers and those who gather around the campfire. There are three winged horses so swift, fast and unpredictable glide through the skies and terrifying roar all they are. His "mane of jet," says A. G. Lomas, are drawn in the air and vanish in the fog at night. Flare thrown out of his mouth causing destruction and chaos. There is only one way to keep falling on someone and to give it bad for the whole year: a four-leaf clover. This plant has eagerly sought, as there are few, since the night before the Caballucos have grazed all they encountered, but can never finish them. If you get the precious amulet you get to enjoy the festival without any fear, so the boys look carefully "the fair" or "yerbuca of San Juan." There are few people still searching today for the dew this morning to walk barefoot on it and achieving health. "If you cut the San Juan yerbuca you culiebra and rid of all evil"

In Cantabria include, among others, the Fiestas de San Juan de Los Corrales de Buelna.

Castilla y León
In the Castilian and Leonese community are important Fiestas de San Juan or Mother of God of Soria were declared of International Tourist Interest.

They also have relevance the Fiestas de San Juan del Monte in Miranda de Ebro

Catalonia
"Verbena de San Juan"
The "Verbena de San Juan", popularly known as the "Night of Fire" or the "Night Witches" is a celebration that takes place the night of 23 to June 24. It is of pagan origin and before the introduction of Christianity coincided with the summer solstice on 21 June. The celebration is similar to that of Alicante, bonfires are prepared with furniture and junk in the days preceding and 23 children have a "ninot" or doll on top. When the sun is setting fire to the bonfire with torches and the party begins. It is outdoor dining with family and friends, and in every neighborhood or town is usually a band that encourages the night.

Dinner consists of the traditional "coca" for dessert, of which there are sweet and savory variations. The crackers are similar to pizza but with a more compact mass, without the cheese and tomato, sliced rustic bread slices. The candy has a similar basis to Brioxos and covered with cream, candied fruits or llardons "(pork rinds). In origin the "kink" had a circular shape, symbolizing the sun. Typical drink is the champagne tonight.

Comunidad Valenciana
The Bonfires of San Juan in Alicante
Main article: Alicante Bonfires
History

A fire in the Bonfires of San Juan in Alicante.Esta festival dates back to the days when farmers Alicante celebrating the longest day of the year for harvesting crops and the shortest night for the destruction of evil. The tradition soon spread to the city of Alicante, then notify the Mayor sent a proclamation which read:

"... That do not light bonfires in the streets, no less shots or rockets go off in the night of San Juan and successive, under penalty of 20 to 100 reais."
But in 1881, an oversight council, made the proclamation was not published. Taking advantage of this, the residents of Alicante streets were grouped by instituting "street parties", which had games, music and began to create the first "ninots" which appear to someone who criticized her. And in 1928, occurs the first official holiday of the city of Alicante, in which stood the figure of José María Py, main promoter of the Bonfires and said:

"The Bonfires of Alicante are well known for its tradition since ancient times, people of Alicante should give them that same character has been given to the Fallas of Valencia."
This idea aimed at attracting tourism, as in Valencia, was the organization of that year, the first Bonfires of San Juan, permitted by the City, in the image and likeness of the Fallas in Valencia. Since 1932, the commission created the ultimate representation at this event, "The Beauty of Fire" (Bellea del foc) maximum fee for each committee which is elected annually.

The recent fires in the period of the Spanish Civil War were held in 1936 to recover in 1939 with a single plant fire. Since 1940 the party would take off.

Celebration
The Bonfires of San Juan are public holidays in the city of Alicante (Spain) and have been declared of International Tourist Interest. Its origins are ancient but in 1928 when the festivities take their current characteristics, and its driver José María Py.

With the proclamation, which takes place on the Friday prior to the plant, the festivities begin. From 17 to June 20 are planted "fires" that are monuments of art of wood, cardboard, cork and paint containing a load deep satire. Four days later they burn after a monumental palm launch fireworks from the hill of Benacantil, where the Castillo de Santa Barbara, and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. Each Bonfire represents a street, area or district of the city.

During the holidays there is an extensive program of event with parades, marches, awakening, horseback riding, offerings of flowers, bullfights, mascletás, musical performances, sports tournaments, etc. The party lives on the street, where people can eat and dance in the "barracks" and "Racós" and taste the tonyina coca (coca with tuna) and bacoras (figs). The party has its queen, the Bellea of Foc, chosen among the previous year were "Beautiful" from each of the 91 districts fogueriles.

The Alicante Bonfires burned on the night of June 24, the day after the night of San Juan, time traditional fires burning in the rest of Spain. Due to the heat of the date and the fire is a common practice for firefighters to control the evolution of fire wet with water from their hoses to attendees who request it.

In addition to the city of Alicante, is the festival of bonfires in other locations such as Alicante Torrevieja, Guardamar del Segura, Javea, Denia, El Raval de San Juan de Elche, Benidorm or San Juan de Alicante.
Villenera In the hamlet of La Encina also held a similar celebration in honor of San Juan Bautista but was called faults (under the influence of Valencia), but the queens and ladies of the party wearing the costume of Alicante.
Galicia
Bonfires of San Juan in Galicia

Bonfire of San Juan, Galicia and the Galician coast in many towns of the interior is held San Juan, who is also heading the entire month of June.

It is said that this magical night of the world communicate further with the of the here. It's time to scare away the evil spirits: In San Juan witches and witches will flee (In San Xoán fuxirán witches and witches).

The bonfires are lit when the day 24, ie after midnight. He is credited with protection and good luck to the fact a fire to jump nine times that night (as the stock, the number varies). We also had to receive nine times the waves launched to increase women's fertility.

It is important to mention the fires on the island of Arousa and every year at this solstice more than 50 fires are lit at the site, with a festive atmosphere the beautiful white sand beaches are full of people to the orange firelight. At night they gather herbs of various sorts that are left in water to wash the next morning it accounted for therapeutic and cleansing properties. Draw pictures or stains that night also had a clairvoyant character, and in that sense, sleep with a bunch of herbs from San Juan was that the day is waking up knowing the identity of the future partner.

In addition, the city of La Coruña, the party has achieved the distinction of being regarded as a Festival of National Tourist Interest. The whole town goes out to celebrate its most magical night, with particular relevance is the high concentration of people on the beaches Orzán Riazor and, in the heart of the city. The coruñeses celebrate the arrival of summer with lots of bonfires, sardines and great atmosphere in a festival that annually attracts more tourists, mainly national, who are drawn to the festive atmosphere of the festivals and fireworks that dropped from the esplanade of the slaves.

The typical food of the evening are the cachelos (potatoes roasted with its skin, which is then removed) and the grilled sardines. Is a feast spread throughout the coast and most of Galicia.

The Basque Country
Bonfires of San Juan in the Basque Country
These celebrations are deeply rooted in the Basque Country, are held in all towns and cities, with bonfires in the streets of the neighborhood or on the beach. Traditionally, the end is appropriate to jump the fire, or make a smaller fire and free you to jump. It is also common with teenagers who find their course notes are to burn in the fire. There are festivities of different peoples, such as Hernani, Salvatierra, Andoain ...

In Latin
Virtually all of Spain is celebrated Midsummer following practices imported by the Spanish and Portuguese and other European immigrants (mainly Italian and German), in certain areas syncretized with indigenous elements and even afros. In areas where the population is a majority of European origin rituals are more like those of Europe.

Because it is in the southern hemisphere, most of South America is south of the equator, the days around 20 June (austral winter solstice) from the celebration are the shortest of the year. For this reason, the holiday Mapuche Tripantu We call for the new year. Usually it is a mixture of Indian celebrations influenced by Spanish Christian customs, leading to many rituals and traditions, like watching a fig tree and flower to hide three popes on the fate.

Argentina
Night of San Juan is celebrated on June 21, when that happens, (reversed in Europe) the winter solstice, during that time, fires are lit (often called fogaratas) in neighborhoods or towns, around these fires are met mainly children and young people has been tadición cook sweet potatoes or yams in them and also jump on these fires.

Bolivia
Traditionally, family bonfires were made in which it burns (stirred) furniture and old wooden things gathered over the previous year, the event represented burn, get rid of the old to make way for the new. This renewed the material and spiritual, a way to start a new year (Aymara New Year celebrated mainly in Tiwanaku) around the campfire, and in order to keep warm, traditional hot dishes were consumed, currently being replaced by hot dogs (Panchito, frankfurters). Also enjoying a hot toddy or succumbs, the latter drink made singani (grape hot water) and milk heated in a fire as that in Bolivia it has at 23 June as the coldest night of the year. Children play with fireworks. Youth and adults dance and jump over the fire.

Today we celebrate the night of San Juan across the country but without bonfires, as due to population growth of cities burning wood and other toxic materials have contributed to damage the environment and health of citizens, thus be decided by legal rules prohibit campfires, because of this the fires have been replaced by barbecue (BBQ) thus maintaining the holiday with family reunions and friends but there is still the tradition of firecrackers and fireworks among children and youth.

Chile
In this country the conquerors replaced the solstice celebrations of the Inti Raymi celebration We Tripantu by demonic tinted to make clear the position on ancestral religions. The tradition related to the Night of San Juan in Chile essentially refers to popular beliefs related to the figure of the Devil, initially focused on the island of Chiloé and currently scattered throughout the country in different variants. Local folklore suggests that in this festival, the demonic presence is more visible than at any other time of year, which is recognized as an opportunity to perform certain acts of sorcery. Celebrated in the country's "tradition of the popes," whereby, placing these plants under the bed in the Night of San Juan can be used as an oracle. Also related to this festival with numerous events related to Higuera, instant learning from interpretations of a musical instrument (mediated by the devil) under this tree, like the appearance of his alleged flower.

Colombia
Celebration focused mainly in the departments of Tolima, Huila and Caqueta. Along with the tradition of the ceremony the sun, which has lost importance over time, the peasants celebrate San Juan Bautista as an augury for the prosperity of the crops especially rice.

Today, June 24 also marks National Day of Tamal, delicacies typical of the region of Tolima, as a normal activity within the framework of the National Folclócico Festival, whose founder was a distinguished politician and thinker Henry Silva Huila Cabrera in 1959. The folk festival attracts more diverse samples across Colombia, passing through the Caribbean Coast, the Cumbia, Mapalad Vallenato; Andean Region with its walkways, Guabina, Rajaleñas and Sanjuaneros among others, Region de los Llanos Orientales (Orinoco) with samples Galeron and Joropo; and Currulao Pacific Coast, and finally the Amazon with the idioms of its population is mostly mestizo, from other regions of the country, trying to find their own identity, sometimes drawing on traditions of indigenous, mostly exterminated.

With folk samples, respectively, the Queens are elected Municipal, State and National Folklore at a party three days covering the June holidays (holiday weekends), respectively. Municipal elected Queen (Miss Ibague), competes for the title of Miss Tolima (which is crowned on the day of St. John, June 24), and this in turn, competes for the title of Queen's National Folklore, with representatives coming from the other Departments of the Republic of Colombia. The evening of election and coronation of Queen Folklore National Day is done prior to the Celebration of San Pedro (June 1929), ie 28 junio.En the departments of Huila and Caqueta also performed similar reigns following the same pattern.

To choose the queens, is measured above all, the explanatory power and knowledge of regional and national folklore, as well as the ability for dances by aspiring to the respective titles: National Queen of folklore, national bambuco Queen, etc.. It also takes into account the public acceptance and beauty.

Panama
San Juan Bautista is the patron saint of the city of Chitre and Aguadulce, Panama. On June 24 is the main day of the feast of the town, with religious acts and pagans of all kinds. Religious novenas, processions, folk performances, dancing, horseback riding, bull fighting, among others.

Paraguay
At night, neighbors gather for games and contests that often have traditional names in Guarani. The most dangerous of games is the "ball tata," a ball of rags soaked in oil or kerosene. The ball lights up and becomes a ball of fire that runs through the crowd and gives people trying to kick away. The "arid jehasa tata" or "p-ï tata yejhasa ari" is also dangerous: it means moving walk barefooted on hot coals about 5 meters.

To play the bull candle, "someone wears a helmet shaped head of a bull with horns on fire and runs through the crowd pretending to be bull. The "yvyra syi is the competition of trying to climb a greased pole, which can have a prize hanging from the tip. The "marriage koyguá" is a simulated peasant wedding so fun. The "kambuchi jejoká is a piñata made from a ceramic jar. "Jeheréi Paila" is licking a greased pan.

Peru
In the Peruvian Amazonia (Amazonas, San Martin, Loreto, Ucayali ...) celebrated the Feast of San Juan. The feast of San Juan is celebrated on 24th June in all peoples of the rainforest of Peru.

In the night of 23 men and women seek to purify river this bath is known as "the holy bath, it is believed that at that time San Juan blesses the water courses and who bathe in them will have happiness and health throughout the year.
On the 24th the people of Iquitos is moved to the neighborhood of San Juan, where he celebrated a Mass and a procession that is accompanied by typical band with drums, drums and flutes. Then there is the gang dance where people dance around a palm tree laden with gifts and that is known by the name "Humisha."
The main sample of this feast of San Juan, is that these rides all behave and taste of "John" has a special preparation usually consists of rice, eggs, olives, cilantro and sacha goose farm dams, wrapped in leaves of plant known as Bijao or banana, which is what gives a distinctive flavor. The cover of John is a round shape that represents the head of this saint, when he was ordered to bring him on a plate for the daughter of Herodias.

During Tourism Week Iquitos, the capital of Loreto and other major cities in the Amazon, organized dances, parades of traditional sets, photo contests and craft fairs.

Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico the night's feast of San Juan is also the official holiday of the homonymous capital. It makes a number of rituals to "take off the bad luck", such as jump back on the beach seven times at twelve midnight or bathing with flowers. Being an Island Puerto Rico all beaches are visited by hundreds of people. This tradition has become a veritable feast of Pueblo, where people celebrate with music, dancing, food and beverages. People who attend the beaches look forward to reaching twelve midnight to drop, and while performing the ritual bathing above. This is considered as a kind of "baptism" by which they make sure to start a new stage in their lives. They do hope that in the sea being stripped of all "bad influences" and renew their lives with a better future. Some people who do not go to the beach, anyway celebrating "Midsummer" in their homes, doing other rituals where you can use fruit, candles, incense, water aroamáticas, figuririllas of San Juan Bautista ... For Puerto Ricans, this event is very significant because as mentioned earlier in this article, the capital city of Puerto Rico is named after San Juan.Esta activity is monitored and protected by Emergency Management, Emergency Medical, Police and many more.

Venezuela
In Venezuela, the feast is celebrated on June 24, has a large number of devotees to the Holy. Since 23 June, enjoyed a night of drums on which commemorates the saint's death, this night belongs to the wake of San Juan. This quaint night runs to the sound of drums, dancing and alcohol, activities preceding the next day's festivities in honor of the saint (The Birth of San Juan Bautista), where a solemn mass sets the tone for a new ring of drums , lasting until the 24th, and devotees will appreciate the saint waving colored handkerchiefs, singing improvised verses to the sound of drums, as well as sensual dance where the man courts a woman, which incites the passion with erotic movements . Each small region has a San Juan, and they held a meeting peñeros who moved to the "San Juan" to Ocumare de la Costa. The festival culminates in "the magical night of San Juan" night of lovers, spells, luck, dancing, drinking, love, hope and life. "If it is San Juan, San Juan gives it."

The roots of this tradition is unknown so far, but is believed to come from Spain, which is predominantly Catholic and have similar rituals on behalf of San Juan Bautista.

References
↑ Juanilla Celebration of Cadiz
See also
Summer Solstice
Devil Caballucos
External Links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiesta de San Juan.Commons
Official Website of the Bonfires of San Juan de La Coruña
Page on the festival of the Bonfires of San Juan de Alicante
Official Website of the celebrations of the Bonfires of San Juan de Alicante
Web for La Playa de San Juan
Web on the San Juan plant
Page on the festival of the Bonfires of San Juan de Alicante of the Official Tourism Web Valencia
Tourist information of the Bonfires of San Juan on the official website for tourism in Spain
Retrieved from "http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_de_San_Juan"
Categories: Parties