How do we welcome in the Summer in Barcelona? And also in Spain? Other countries have their own rituals, like the “midsommar” in Sweden or the beautiful natural light show in the mythic mayan city of Chichen Itzá. We also have a nice one you should experience, Sant Joan in Barcelona (or San Juan in Spanish). Find out what to do in Sant Joan in Barcelona (and nearby).
History: where does this tradition come from?
We celebrate Sant Joan during the night between the 23rd and 24th of June. It has its origins in a pagan festivity, before the implantation of the Christianity, as a Sun worship. Also at the lengthening of the day, at the Summer solstice.
As a historical ritual in Catalonia during this night, we also have what we call “la flama del Canigó”. Each year, the flame in this mountain is renewed and carried to diverse cities and villages in Catalonia by volunteers. Once the flame has arrived to the village and the bonfire is lit, the Sant Joan festivity has officially started. In Barcelona specifically, the flame arrives to Plaça Sant Jaume where it is received by the municipal authorities and also by local festivity groups (we call them “colles geganteres”) which they play the mythical song “Muntanyes de Canigó”.
Gastronomic traditions: Coca de Sant Joan
Looks like we don’t understand cultural rituals without filling our belly… And this is another example of it! This night has also its special food: Coca de Sant Joan. It is a special cake which we eat after dinner.
Bonfires
Bonfires as a symbol of burning bad things from the past year. These are created in diverse spots of some neighborhoods, and people throw away stuff to be burnt.
Firecrackers
You will know Sant Joan in Barcelona is approaching when you start seeing these little shops on the street selling firecrackers. You may start listening to them a couple of days before celebrating this festivity.
Fireworks
You might even see fireworks in the sky, thrown by people from the beach area. If you want to stop by to watch the show, we recommend you to do it in the evening and before midnight. After midnight the beach gets really crowded and it can be pretty overwhelming.
Where to celebrate Sant Joan in Barcelona?
How can you spend this magic night in the city and surroundings? Here are our suggestions:
Popular dinners and parties to celebrate Sant Joan in Barcelona
Enjoy a popular dinner in one of the Barcelona neighborhoods, and see how the bonfire keeps itself alive throughout the longest night of the year. This is the best way to get to know part of our culture: how we organize ourselves through neighborhoods, what we eat, what we sing, how we dance to the rhythm of the songs played by a local orchestra… If you want to celebrate Sant Joan as locals do, this will surely be the best choice.
Picnic up in the hills
This is a fun thing to do. If you hate crowded places, you can have a picnic with your friends up in the hills and observe the show from above. You can go to Collserola, but also you can drive beyond Barcelona area and spend the night in the beautiful mountains.
We drove to Canigó mountain a couple of years ago, and we still remember that Sant Joan night having dinner in a mountain refugee. We woke up really early and climbed the mountain at night to get to see the beautiful sunrise on top of Canigó (note: it takes 3h from Barcelona to get to Taurinyà, and after that 3h climbing to get to the peak).
Sant Joan les Fonts
If you have the chance, we highly recommend you to spend one Sant Joan in Sant Joan les Fonts. They present a beautiful play by the Fluvià river, they call the show “La nit de les dones d’aigua”. And it is really magic.