La Noche de San Juan Beach party in Sabinillas, Manilva 2013
La Noche de San Juan Beach party in Sabinillas, Manilva, Sunday June 23rd 2013
Every year on the evening of 23rd June, Manilva has a fantastic beach party on the beaches of Sabinillas celebrating the start of the summer, in honour of St John the Baptist, on the shortest and most magical night of the year
It is known as “La Noche de San Juan” which is a festivity of pagan origin which celebrates the arrival of the summer solstice and coincides with the evening celebration before the feast of St John.
It is a night full of rituals, bonfires, fireworks, music, dancing, sardines and bread.
On Sabinillas Beach in Manilva, a large monumental bonfire is constructed a few days before the event which takes the form of a different theme each year. 
Originally, the effigies were supposed to represent Judas Iscariot but now, the religious relevance seems to have become secondary to the enjoyment factor but the principle the same.
At midnight these effigies are set fire to to become monumental bonfires.
The pagan purpose of this ritual was to ‘give more force to the Sun’ beacuase as from this day of the year onwards the days are becoming shorter until the winter solstice.
Symbolically the fire also has a ‘purifying’ function in people who watched it
According to tradition, if people jump three times over a bonfire on San Juan’s night, they will be cleansed and purified, and their problems burned away.
This year festivities begin at 9.15 pm when students from Manilva’s Rhythmic Gymnastics School carry the Blue Flag along Sabinillas promenade from Burger King to the Plaza del Cali where it will be raised in a ceremony involving local dignitaries.
This will be followed by a display of rhythmic gymnastics.
Around 10.15 pm the group “‘Tentación” will begin their evening’s performance.
At midnight the bonfire will be lit which will be followed by a fireworks display along the beach in front of La Noria.
It is always a fantastic night and one to put in your diary when you plan your holidays or are thinking of things to do when you live in Manilva.
To see a extract of last years event watch this YouTube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KjdyRARM8M&feature=youtu.be