La noche de San Juan 23 Junio 2013, Roquetas de Mar

On the night of San Juan, 23 June, the people of Spain commemorate the Summer Solstice by lighting bonfires and fireworks. The celebrations are of pagan origin. One of the rituals is to leap over the fires, which allegedly brings good luck for the rest of the year.

My wife, friend Jaime and I spent an enjoyable time celebrating on the seafront in Roquetas. When we arrived, at around 8:30pm, there were already thousands of people on the beaches and, being a Sunday, I should imagine many had spent the day there. 

Groups of families and friends were enjoying themselves eating, drinking and talking; children were playing and some were swimming though this occupation was mainly delayed until midnight.

On this particular night, there was a full moon and a particularly larger one than normal.

Many bonfires were lit and these could be seen much further up the coast as well as fireworks in the distance in Almería city.

The Moon over Roquetas

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Spanish Impressions"	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/