The Bonfires of St John: Burning it up in Alicante!
Alicante is know as a town that’s fond of fun and nothing better encapsulates this than the frenzy of festivities that engulf the city every year from the 19th to the 24th of June during the celebrations of St John’s night, one of the most important events in the cultural life of the city.
The festival starts with the bonfires being prepared on the 19th. On this night it is traditional to eat a pie consisting of tuna and early figs. On the next day the festival proper begins and there will be fireworks displays all through the town, as well as the staging of other spectacles such as bullfights. However, the most central aspect of the goings on are the bonfires.
In the UK we associate bonfires with Guy Fawkes night, where effigies of the famous would-be traitor are often burnt. These tend, on average, not to be any more artful than your typical scarecrow. However, in Alicante, the “monuments” which serve as the centre pieces of many of the bonfires are true works of art. Originally crafted by the best painters and sculptors the city had to offer, these spectacular structures often reflect the current political and economic conditions of the moment. Often these will include a “ninot”, a figure of some politician or otherwise famous person, which is to be burnt. The burning of these monuments marks the culmination of the festival and is proceeded by a beautiful cascade of fireworks.
There are also a number of other incredible sights, not to be missed. The colourful carnival through the city centre is certainly one such sight, as is, without doubt, the famous beauty contest in which ‘The Lady of the Fire’ is chosen to be the queen of the festival.
All of these great attractions can be seen whilst you stay in Alicante. At this time of year public transport is much disturbed, so you’ll want to make use of car hire in Alicante.
Alternatively, if you are staying further up the coast, you may find it worth while to pay a flying visit to Alicante on the night of the 24th. For example car hire in Malaga may provide the perfect opportunity to expand your holiday horizons.