Bus Route: Practically anywhere on the island depending on which location you choose.
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| Los Abrigos beach |
The celebration of
'Midsummer Day' which is actually the 21
st June takes
place on the weekend of the 23
rd/24th June each year and
is known throughout Spain and the Canaries as 'Día de San Juan' (the
day of Saint John the Baptist). As we wind in the UK many religious
festivals are tied in with old pagan customs as the Romans converted
to Christianity. This festival brings together three local beliefs –
the importance of medicinal plants in relation to health, youth and
beauty; the protective nature of fire to ward off evil spirits and
witches and water and its purifying effects. For the Guanches the day
marked the start of the New Year.
In towns and villages
across Tenerife public fountains are decorated with branches, flowers
and unripe fruit and vegetables are also added in relation to the
area. Medicinal plants are collected , arranged in bunches, dipped
in water then hung in doorways. Bonfires are lit in the mountains
and on the beaches to ward off evil spirits, sometimes a dummy
representing a witch or the devil is placed on top (UK -
Halloween/Guy Fawks?). The bonfire itself marks the end of an era
and is made of unwanted items to make room for the new (UK - New
Years' Eve resolutions?) Later in the night when the embers are
dying many will jump over the bonfire for good luck and to prevent
illness in the coming year. There is always music, feasting and
fireworks.
Different towns have
different traditions, El Medano down the road has a big beach party
with a live sound stage and other events, El Puertito beach in Adeje
sees thousands of boats made of banana leaves lit with night lights
sailing of into the distance. It is believed that they take the
owners dreams of to a place where they will be transformed into
reality. In Playa San Juan there is a monster bonfire and feast as
it is their saint, at midnight people throw themselves into the sea
for the ritual cleansing. In Puerto de La Cruz there is the bathing
of the goats where hundreds of goats are brought down from the
surrounding mountains to bathe in the sea as part of an ancient
fertility rite. An opportunity for the families of farmers and
mariners to meet and form alliances both business and romantic.
Santa Cruz has a big concert and everywhere everyone has fun, as I
have said before they do like a party out here in Tenerife.
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| As the sun goes down |
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| Fire and music |
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| Smaller fires around - roast chestnuts? |
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