Sant Joan is summer with a bang.
June 23rd marked the start of what many Barcelona locals call the biggest celebration of the year. Celebrated by children and adults alike, the Sant Joan Festival began on the night of the 23rd and continued well into the next day.
Known also by the Catalans as “nit del foc,” meaning night of fire, the Sant Joan Festival annually celebrates the sun and start of summer. Fire was the highlight of this special event, and congregations of people enjoyed bonfires and fireworks on the city’s beaches. As an official holiday in Barcelona, everyone got the day off to witness the highly anticipated spectacle. Just like the Fourth of July in the United States, Sant Joan is typically a gathering of high spirits and enjoyment, whether the festivity is an endless night of partying at the beach or a low-key dinner with the family.
Happen to be in Barcelona next year? Grab some friends, a couple beers, and a picnic basket and go straight to the nearest beach. Make sure you get there early, spots fill up fast! Don’t forget the sweet “coca,” bread topped with fruit and nuts and savored. Join thousands of natives in welcoming the start to summer, where dancing and fun last well into sunrise. Just when you thought Barcelonians couldn’t party harder… wait until you experience Sant Joan!
