Celebrate Summer in Barcelona at the Sant Joan Festival

At the turn of the summer solstice, the skies of Barcelona fill with the light of fireworks from sunset to sunrise, celebrating the new season in Catalonia.

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Each year, on June 23 (or whenever the solstice happens to occur), the region of Catalonia in Spain celebrates the feast of Sant Joan to welcome summer. Also known as the Nit de Foc (Catalan for Night of Fire), the beaches of Barcelona are filled with people who gather to watch the show of sporadic bonfires and fireworks. At midnight, a common tradition involves bathing in the salt waters of the Mediterranean Sea which have been known to have healing capabilities.

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The signature food of the festival is a cake, or coque, that comes in both sweet and savory varieties and are flavored with anise. Throughout the city of Barcelona, lines will form outside of bakeries as customers wait for their pre-ordered coques.

The day after the all-night festival, the city goes into recovery mode as banks, restaurants and businesses close their doors to rest and recuperate. If you happen to be in the region during this annual holiday, grab a blanket, a bottle of cava and your friends and head down to the beach for the celebration!