St John's Eve in Almería

St John's Eve is one of Almería's most deeply rooted celebrations. It coincides with the start of summer and keeps the fire ritual: lighting bonfires on the beach to say goodbye to bad things and make wishes.

Every year the City Council organises a special security and cleaning operation on the beaches, puts on fireworks and live music, and in recent years has handed out clean firewood at the beach entrances in exchange for pallets and other hazardous materials. 24 June, St John's Day, is one of the city's local holidays.

On the beaches and seafront promenades of the municipality, from west to east: the city beaches such as El Palmeral and El Zapillo, as well as La Garrofa, Costacabana, El Alquián, Retamar and Cabo de Gata. The fireworks are launched from La Térmica breakwater and the security command post is set up at El Palmeral.

Families and friends settle on the sand from the afternoon with their dinner, and at night the bonfires are lit. It is traditional to write wishes, or things you want to leave behind, on a piece of paper and burn it in the fire.

At midnight the fireworks begin, and with them comes the moment to wet your feet, hands and face in the sea for good luck; the boldest go for a swim. Then people jump over the bonfires and the party carries on at the beach. The next morning municipal services clean the sand early.

Drinking parties in the street, camping and bringing nails, metal, varnish, paint or flammable substances onto the beach are forbidden.