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| June, 2008 |
| Well, summer is finally here! Time to pack away your winter clothes, get out the sunscreen and hit the beach! If you are lucky enough to be in town during one of Barcelona´s major fiestas – Sant Joan, you are in for a treat. The festivities in Barcelona, however, start way before the official feastday on June 24th. Here are some of the events happening in our fair city in June: * The city is hosting its “Music in the Park” series, classical, jazz and band music at several parks throughout the city. Full details at http://w3.bcn.es/fitxers/premsa/080604musicaalsparcs.567.pdf . * On June 18th, the Fabra observatory hosts the classic summer programme, "Supper Under the Stars", starting with dinner boasting panoramic views of Barcelona followed at a midnight viewing of the stars through the Observatory´s telescope. The three features of the evening combine to make a very special evening: good food, the pleasure of the views of the city and the stars, and scientific knowledge. Full details are at the Fabra website, www.observatorifabra.com/ca/. Also, catch the entire summer programme to learn about the stars, planets, and our own moon at the observatory. * June 20-22 is the EIAM First International Martial Arts Festival at the Palau Sant Jordi. Full details at their website at www.eiam08.com. * The city has just published its guide to sports in Barcelona. In Spanish and Catalan. Downloadable PDF brochure available at the city´s website http://w3.bcn.es/fitxers/esports/guiaanyesport.265.pdf or at any of the Customer Service centers if the different neighborhoods of the city. * Sant Joan..... If you are planning to get any sleep on Monday night, you should remember that the rest of the city isn't. It may be one of the shortest nights of the year because it occurs right after the summer solstice, but during the hours of darkness from sunset on the 23rd June through to Sant Joan's day on the 24th June, the skies will be lit up with colour and fire. The metros and trains will be running continuously from the “verbena”, or Sant Joan eve, throughout Sant Joan on the 24th. You may have heard talk around town about the "Revetlles" or seen many bakeries in town selling the traditional "Coca" cake. Let us explore both significant customs... The city of Barcelona is at its most vibrant during, "La Nit de Sant Joan", when the streets are filled with parties and outdoor celebrations known as "Revetlles", or ,"Verbenas". As well as bonfires, fireworks and music, people also eat "cocas", traditional cakes as well as other sweet foods at home and around bonfires in order to ward off bad luck. In fact, much of the symbolism that surrounds the festivities of Sant Joan, including the noise and fires themselves, are intended to fend off bad spirits. Every barrio of the city will have its own street celebrations that you will find hard to miss. If you would like to know where specific celebrations are in your area, here are a few suggestions: The best bonfires take place at the Barceloneta and Villa Olimpica beaches, which is the best viewing of the fireworks, too. Street bonfires are taking place at various locations around the city including the following: ..... Lepant with Ribes (with party), by the Teatro Nacional (metro L1 red line at Glories or the Tram Baixes, TNC/L´Auditori stop) .....Parc de Joan Miro (with party), by Plaça Espanya (metro L3 green line at Tarragona) .....Via Augusta with Dolors Monserdà (FGC train L6, Reina Elisenda) ..... Diputació between Urgell and Villarroel (with music and dancing) (metro L1 red line at Urgell) “Revetlles” or street parties are taking place at various locations around the city including the following: ..... Casa Orlandai, C/ Jaume Piquet, 23, FGC trains, station Sarrià ..... Pg. de Sant Joan (between Còrsega and Indústria), metro L4 yellow line at Verdaguer ..... Moll de La Fusta, metro line L3 at Drassanes and walk across the pedestrian bridge ..... Mercat de Sant Antoni (metro L2 purple line at Sant Antoni) Get full details of the Revetlles and all Sant Joan activity at the city´s website at www.bcn.es/santjoan/ca/welcome.html. And the best way to find the quickest route is to go to the www.tmb.net site, look for English and the tab “I want to go to”. Insert the address you are at in the first section and the address you wish to travel to in the second. They will then provide you with the quickest combination of public transportation (metro, bus or tram) available to wish you to your destination. Now for information about Sant Joan. The fiesta focuses on three important symbols – fire, water and herbs. The Nit del Foc, or "night of fire" as Sant Joan is referred-to, promotes purifying flames frighten off and force back the imaginary beings that abound during the hours of darkness. They also ward off bad luck. The second symbol of Sant Joan is water. It is said that, on this night, water has curative powers, so it is the custom for many people to swim in the sea or moisten themselves with dew from the fields at the crack of dawn. According to tradition, medicinal plants multiply their curative properties this night, so it is the custom to collect thyme, rosemary and verbena at the first hour of the morning. Verbenas are the fiestas which liven up the few hours of darkness from sunset on the 23rd to sunrise on the 24th June, which is the day of Saint Joan. The Spanish word verbena comes from the plant of the same name, which was offered to the gods in ancient times, with a very strong smell and believed to have aphrodisiac properties. All these symbols and legends come together in a night of fiesta and brotherhood, with the great stars being fireworks. The younger ones have fun with rockets, firecrackers and flares, and enjoy the spectacular light and colour of firework displays. The strong tradition of pyrotechnics in Catalan culture comes from the Arabs, and was revived in the 12th and 13th century. The "Coca" cake itself is more of a sweet bread topped with pine nuts and filled with cinnamon, cherries and glazed fruits. It comes in many different forms and can also be savoury, filled with cured meats and peppers. Bakeries are brimming with a whole range of versions of this tradtional dessert at this time of year. Another feature of the Sant Joan festivities is the brightly colored decorations and bunting which you will see hanging around the city. This includes your local stores and supermarkets, where they will most probably remain for a few weeks yet to come. With fire crackers and fireworks being so liberally launched in public places, safety is obviously of key concern at this time of the year. For those of you coming from countries where fireworks are not even on sale to individuals or where public displays take place at controlled distances and even safety norms at home displays are most strictly adhered to, the wild, almost pyromaniacal, attitude of Sant Joan can be quite disconcerting. If you are planning to get any sleep on Monday night, remember the earplugs. * Don´t forget that the Grec 2008 Festival starts on June 25th . Theatre, music, dance and circus acts throughout the summer. See full details at www.barcelonafestival.com/eng/programme. Barcelona happenings at the city´s website, in English, at http://w3.bcn.es Have fun! See you next month. Cheers from Sandra |
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| Download the June Barcelona Kid´s Top 10 guide here. |