Bonfires of San Juan

Tradition holds that fire drives away evil spirits and purifies the soul. The Night of San Juan, one of the shortest nights of the year, celebrated on June 23rd, is one of the most eagerly anticipated festivities for both children and adults. That night, firecrackers go off freely, startling more than one, and bonfires—fed with all kinds of objects like wood, cardboard, or anything flammable—rise proudly into the sky. Enchanted by the magnetism of the flames, children, young people, and the elderly have gathered since ancient times around the fire, dancing, laughing, singing, and the bravest even leaping over the flames.