Bob Bolling's Website in Galicia, Northwest Spain

June 24th is the Day of San Juan Bautista in Spain. That's just after the official beginning of Summer and, in Spain, that's reason enough to have a celebration. Details of the celebration vary from one region of the country to another but they usually involve a day (or two or three) of music, dancing, eating and drinking. Towards the end of the celebrations, around midnight on the 23rd, there are the popular San Juan Hogureas (bonfires.)

Folks in cities, towns and villages large or small have their own bonfires. Some of the most spectacular in Galicia are in the city of Coruña, near here. That's where these pictures were taken. (Put your cursor on each small picture to enlarge it.)

Hogueras - Bonfires on San Juan Day July 2009
These women are rolling what appear to be new - or near new - pallets to the beach for use as bonfire fuel. I wonder where the pallets (and the shopping cart) came from? People are carrying anything that'll burn. The stacks of fuel are taking shape in the background. There'll be all shapes and sized of bonfires at night. The Coruña government said they cleaned up 150 tons of debris the next day. This one - sponsored by a bank - looks professionally designed. It looks so nice it's almost a shame to burn it to the ground. As midnight arrived, there seemed to be hundreds of fires of all sizes on the beach. They say jumping the fire 3 times cleanses the soul, brings good luck - or something. Some claim it doesn't have to be three as long as it isn't an even number of jumps. PUT CURSOR ON THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ENLARGE Hogueras (bonfires) on Riazor beach in Coruña June 24th is the Day of San Juan Bautista in Spain. That's just after the official beginning of Summer and, in Spain, that's reason enough to have a celebration. Details of the celebration vary from one region of the country to another but they usually involve a day (or two or three) of music, dancing, eating and drinking. Towards the end of the celebrations, around midnight on the 23rd, there are the popular San Juan Hogureas (bonfires.) Folks in cities, towns and villages large or small have their own bonfires. Some of the most spectacular in Galicia are in the city of Coruña, near here. That's where these pictures were taken. (Put your cursor on each small picture to enlarge it.)