One of the best things about Valenica is its many public holidays! Next week we’ve got another coming up, on the 24th of June, called La Noche de San Juan. In 2020 and 2021, this wasn’t celebrated in Valencia due to the pandemic, so the anticipation is even higher this year. Read on to learn about this unique festivity!

Typical Traditions

The night of San Juan, which takes place from June 23^rd to June 24^th, is one of the most highly anticipated moments of the year in Valencia. Why? Because it’s the official ‘welcome’ to summer!

To celebrate it, the typical activity is to go to the beach during the evening with family and friends. People usually have dinner there, bringing their own food and drinks while sitting around a bonfire they’ve made on the sand, and watching fireworks.

The most common traditition as part of this festival is to go into the sea at midnight and jump over seven waves. This is for good luck, and people make a wish while doing so. In addition, some people prefer to jump over the fire seven times, and to make a wish after midnight. All in all, the best thing about San Juan is to have fun and share this celebration with family and friends.

San Juan in Valencia

Valencia loves San Juan, and to aid the celebrations the local government gives out between 20 and 35 tonnes of firewood, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, for festivalgoers to use.

If you want to get involved in this special tradition, we must warn you that not all beaches are open to bonfires. To prevent fires in the natural park of La Dehesa, bonfires and fireworks are banned in Playa del Saler, Pinedo and El Perellonet. However, you can pay a visit to the beaches of Malvarrosa and El Cabanyal where there are sure to be big celebrations!

If you prefer to stay in the city and you’re not a big fan of fires, don’t worry – the city is full of parties with live music and DJ’s in most neighborhoods, so there’s something for everyone! A reminder that if you are taking part in the festivities, do so responsibly, and remember to look out for those you are with.

A reminder that Euroace will be closed on Friday 24th June, so we’ll see you back in classes on Monday 27th.

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