Introduction

Sant Joan is a celebration that takes place during the night of 23 of June.

Traditionally, you have dinner with family and friends, eat cake for dessert, then throw firecrackers set off fireworks, and make a bonfire.

The cake is called coca.

The bonfire.

CALENDAR

Origins and history

This celebration was started by ancient civilisations who lit a bonefire, as they noticed that from that day onwards the days started to become shorter. In this way they gave strength to the Sun.

The Catholic Church adopted the celebrations to make it coincide with the birth of St. John.

Rituals and traditionsRituals and traditions

It is a traditional bonfire made with It is a traditional bonfire made with wood and old furniture.wood and old furniture.

In Sant Joan, people believe that In Sant Joan, people believe that jumping over the fire will bring them jumping over the fire will bring them good luck.good luck.

If you get hair wet during Sant Joan it If you get hair wet during Sant Joan it will grow faster and better.will grow faster and better.

It is believed that some plants and It is believed that some plants and herbs have special properties if you herbs have special properties if you pick them with your eyes closed that pick them with your eyes closed that night.night.

Sant Joan today

St. Joan is one of the most important parties in the summer.

It is celebrated in a great deal of cities and villages of Catalonia.

It is also traditional to have dinner with family or friends. At dessert, you eat cake and drink champagne.

Fireworks Firecrackers

St. Joan is celebrated by people of all ages. Young children set off different types of fireworks and firecrackers, like pop snappers or light flares, because they can hurt themselves with bigger fireworks.

Sant Joan sayings

- -Qui riu per Sant Joan, plora per Nadal.-Bany de Sant Joan, salut per tot l'any.-Qui encén foc per Sant Joan, no es crema en tot l’any.-Sant Antoni es va enamorar d’un porc;

i Sant Joan, d’un be i jo de vostè.

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La nit de sant Joan és nit d’alegria.Estrellat de flors, l’estiu ens arriba de mans de un follet que li fa de guia; Primavera mort, l’hivern es retira.

Bona sort per Nadal, desventura per Sant Joan .