Summer Solstice 2006 - Vic
St John's Day Festival, Pontevedra
For my first solticequinox day in Spain, we went to participate in the St John's Eve celebrations, which include burning an enormous bonfire, and setting smaller ones which you have to jump over three times to have good luck for the rest of the year. The small fires were not dangerous in themselves, but the scary part is the fact that dozens of people all run at the thing from every possible angle, so there's a real risk of crashing into somebody mid-air! The St John aspect of this celebration exists in the name only - an example of the Church taking over a traditional pagan ceremony and allowing it to carry on unchanged.
Vic
For my first solticequinox day in Spain, we went to participate in the St John's Eve celebrations, which include burning an enormous bonfire, and setting smaller ones which you have to jump over three times to have good luck for the rest of the year. The small fires were not dangerous in themselves, but the scary part is the fact that dozens of people all run at the thing from every possible angle, so there's a real risk of crashing into somebody mid-air! The St John aspect of this celebration exists in the name only - an example of the Church taking over a traditional pagan ceremony and allowing it to carry on unchanged.Vic
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