BARCELONA; 22 June 2010.
23 June: La nit de Sant Joan. Held all over the Catalan speaking area, is the night of the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest piont.
The night of 23 June, midsummer night, the eve of the feast of Saint John the Baptist is la nit del foc, the night of the fire throughout the Catalan speaking area. As the summer solstice, its origins are pagan. The atmosphere is both mad and magical. Bonfires are lit at street junctions and squares by la Flame of el Canigó. Be warned of the small very loud – thought harmless- bangers called petards which kids throw at each other, and sometimes at passers-by. It’s also a big night for the cake shops, as virtually everybody buys a coca de sant Joan and some Cava. Parties go on everywhere, music and revels continue all thru the night. A popular way to end the night is to watch the sunrise over the sea. Two hot points are el Cap de Creus, localed in La costa Brava and, the beaches of Barcelona; getting both places very crowded.
EL CANIGÓ by: Jacint Verdaguer.
Lo Canigó és una magnòlia immensa
que en un rebrot del Pirineu se bada;
per abelles té fades que la volten,
per papallons los cisnes i les àligues.
Formen son càlzer escarides serres
que plateja l’hivern i l’estiu daura,
grandiós beire on beu olors l’estrella,
los aires rellentor, los núvols aigua.
Les boscúries de pins són sos bardissos,
los Estanyols ses gotes de rosada,
i és son pistil aqueix palau aurífic,
somni d’aloja que del cel davalla.
© J.Verdaguer.
DITES DE SANT JOAN.
Qui encén foc per Sant Joan no es crema en tot l'any.
Bany de Sant Joan, salud per tot l'any.
Les herbes de Sant Joan tenen virtut tot l'any.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario