FRIDAY NIGHT WAS Noche Blanca (White Night), or Saint John's Eve. It's the celebration that occurs the night before the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist, a Christian holy day to commemorate his birth. Saint John's Eve includes music, dancing, drinking, and bonfires.
The tradition originates, however, with non-Christian summer solstice festivals. One legend says that you have to light a fire to give more power to the sun because the sun loses its strength (shorter days) until winter solstice. At midnight, after first running into the sea, people jump over the bonfire 3 times for good luck or for the hell of it. (One British man was so filled with alcohol, I was afraid there would be an explosion. Luckily, he was too drunk to manage more than one jump.)
Here in Fuengirola, it means parties on the beach starting around 8 in the evening and going until 3 IN THE MORNING, music blasting from the chiringuitos (beach bars) until 3 IN THE MORNING, and picnics and bonfires all along the beach. Not all the chiringuitos have live music blasting (they're too close together); we're blessed (not) to be across the street from one of the biggest parties.
And, of course, there are fireworks (but, at midnight, and not at 3 IN THE MORNING).
And still, after all that whining, our glass curtains shut out a majority of the noise!
EL VIERNES POR la noche fue Noche Blanca (o Noche de San Juan). Es la celebración que ocurre la noche antes del Día de San Juan Bautista, un día cristiano para conmemorar su nacimiento. La Noche de San Juan incluye música, baile, bebida y hogueras.
La tradición se origina, sin embargo, con festivales paganos del solsticio de verano. Se dice que tiene que encender un fuego para dar más energía al sol porque el sol pierde su fuerza (días más cortos) hasta el solsticio de invierno. A la medianoche, después de correr en el mar, la gente salta por encima de la hoguera 3 veces — por suerte o porque quieren. (Un hombre británico estaba tan lleno de alcohol, tenía miedo de que hubiera una explosión. Por suerte, estaba demasiado borracho para manejar más de un salto.)
Aquí en Fuengirola, significa fiestas en la playa a partir a las 8 por la noche y hasta las 3:00 DE LA MAÑANA música de los chiringuitos hasta las 3 DE LA MAÑANA, picnics y hogueras a lo largo de la playa.
No todos los chiringuitos tienen música en vivo de voladura (están demasiado cerca); estamos bendecidos (no) de estar al otro lado de la calle de una de las fiestas mas grandes.
Y, por supuesto, hay fuegos artificiales (pero, a medianoche, y no a las 3 DE LA MAÑANA).
Y aún, después de todo ese gimoteo, nuestras cortinas de cristal cerró la mayoría del ruido!
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| EARLY AFTERNOON WITH SMOKE OFFSHORE FROM PORTUGAL'S RECENT TERRIBLE FIRES. TEMPRANO POR LA TARDE CON HUMO DESDE LOS RECIENTES FUEGOS TERRIBLES DE PORTUGAL. |
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| EARLY EVENING. THE SMOKE CAME ONSHORE. TEMPRANO POR LA NOCHE. EL HUMO VIENE EN TIERRA. |
I love the smell of roasted nuts but..........
ReplyDeleteRay:
DeleteThey smelled nothing like those chestnuts I remember from the streets of New York.
Wow, now THAT'S a party!
ReplyDeleteDebra:
DeleteIt's fun, but I can't believe the music booming through the night. People LIVE here!
you gotta be drunk to wanna jump over THAT!
ReplyDeletePantalones En Llamas - I read this as pants with llamas; llamas don't need pants! ;-b
anne marie:
DeleteI did want to jump it myself (not drunk), but I screwed up my knee just a little and didn't want to end up on my ass in the flames. Llamas wear chaps.
The midsummer celebrations you have over there sound like so much FUN! I want to move to Spain.
ReplyDeleteJennifer:
DeleteI highly recommend it. In a few weeks, we take the Virgin of Carmen into the sea. More fireworks!
Always smart to jump over fire with flammable suntan oil all over your skin all liquored up.
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteMaybe they run into the sea first to wash off the suntan oil. The one guy who reeked of booze really did make me nervous. I thought there would be an explosion just from fumes alone. After his first jump, a woman told him in Spanish he needed to jump three times. Two people with her touched her shoulder and shook their heads "no."
Can I just watch? I hate having my pnats--and my roasted nuts--on fire.
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteI'm the same. I held the camera.
Oooo'h those sparks could tickle you a bit - that's for sure :-)
ReplyDeleteHeron:
DeleteThere were gasps from onlookers every now and again. Sparks did fly.
Oh, to be young and foolish again. On second thought, maybe not - I barely survived the first go 'round. Great celebration.
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteI can be a bit more foolish now than I used to be. Difference is, now I know my limits.
I knew Spain had a lot of religious holidays but I had no idea just how many there were. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteWhen we first lived in Sevilla we joked about how many virgins, saints, and processions there were. Now we just ask if it means the stores will be closed. This holiday doesn't close the stores!
Curious like Mr Hayes - for all these saints days things look jolly but not too 'catholic'. Does anyone actually do the 'saint' part or is it like the Bruegal's painting 'peasant dance?'
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteThere are the worshipful, but my sense is many if not most people here are Catholic by culture and not by observance. And, separation of church and state is still much more clear here than in the US.
I have been up at 3 IN THE MORNING to take the new puppy out. She's getting better. Now we're up at 4:30 IN THE MORNING. But we don't have to jump over fire.
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteI wonder what Tasha would have made of all the excitement. But at 4:30 you would have been too late. Clean-up was going on (around people asleep on the beach).
Looks like a wild a crazy night, a great view.
ReplyDeleteTravel:
DeleteA mostly quiet day yesterday. Today, too. The view is still great.