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“Despite the difficult times in which we live, we must look at life with optimism. We are lucky enough to live in a wonderful place with a beautiful sea, fertile soil and a magical mountain, a beautiful place that nature has granted to us.” Midsummer celebrations have been around for thousands of years ever since our ancestors lit bonfires to ward off evil spirits that were said to roam freely once the sun began its journey back southwards and the nights began to lengthen. It is thought that their origins are linked to the ancient Roman festival of ‘Saturnalia’ which was adapted by those living around the central Pyrenees, the valleys of Andorra and Catalonia as well as Aragon and Valencia. Enduring time and social evolution, these traditions continue to uphold a central theme: the ancient custom of lighting fires to prolong the light through the night to the following dawn. As in most cases, these pagan rituals were “Christianized” and adapted to become a celebration of the birth of St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista in Castellano; Sant Joan Baptista in Valenciano). For Jávea, the modern celebrations of San Juan stretch back to 1950. Although the devastating flood of 1957 almost ended them before they really had a chance to get going, the efforts of the like of Vicente de Gràcia, who built most of the ‘fogueras’ between 1950 and 1967, ensured that the fiesta continued. The festivities are similar to those celebrated by the city of Valencia and other towns, who welcome the arrival of spring with the ‘Fallas’ of San José in March. So what happens during these two weeks of festivities? It is our favourite fiesta of the year so Javeamigos.com hopes to be able to makes things a little clearer so that more people can enjoy the celebrations. Taking centre stage is the “Quintà”, a group of young people who celebrate their “coming of age” during the year. This tradition has its origins in the 19th century when boys who reached the age of eligibility for compulsory military service – known as the “quintos” – formed the “quinta” for that year. Particularly in rural Spain, the “quinta” held a communal meal from food that they had collected from their family and neighbours,often painting a special message as a memorial of their leaving their youth. As the years passed, the “quintos” would hold annual dinners as reunions to remember times past. As social customs changed, the tradition began to include girls of the same age, becoming less directly relevant to military service. These days, for youngsters living in Jávea, it signifies their passage into adulthood. With the ashes of the previous celebrations barely cleared away, the town hall sends out invitations to young people registered on the Padrón who will be turning 18 the following year, inviting them to form that year’s “Quintà”. Not everyone accepts for it is an expensive obligation – the dress alone can cost up to 2,000 euros – but a fair proportion of those invited find the money to become part of the year’s special group for it is a real honour to represent the town as the “quintà”. And it’s not just the “xabieros” who are invited; in recent years, foreigners have taken part including British and Dutch youngsters. In December, the town is introduced to the “Quinta” in a special ceremony during which the members of the group elects its two presidents – one boy and one girl – and the “Reinas de les Fogueres”, the ‘Queen’ and her ‘ladies-in-waiting’. And thus, a life-long social association begins. Aside from the year’s “Quintà”, those groups celebrating their 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th anniversaries are invited to celebrate. Whilst the “Quintà” is the central figure of San Juan, the peñas (“penyas” in Valenciano) are the heart and soul. These are friends who have formed themselves into groups with the primary aim of enjoying the fiesta together. They can vary in size from just a handful of close friends to a whole street of neighbours, taking over a vacant unit or someone’s garage as a communal billet for the duration of the fiesta. Most if not all peñas charge an annual subscription to fund their activities; some members thrown in 200 euros each for the two weeks – but this does mean that their residence is not lacking for food and drink so they can leave their wallet safely at home. The billets can official open on the day before the proclamation of the queens, ladies and their escorts, however the peñas have already spent many days preparing them in order to be acceptable to the organising committee. Long gone is the spontaneity of finding an empty lot and using it as a party-base for a couple of weeks; billets have to have working toilets and at least one member of the peña over the age of 18 has to sign as the responsible person. Everyone likes fiestas but not everyone likes the idea of “festeros” using the road outside their billet or nearby rubbish bins as toilets; luckily those days have gone. Between them, the members of the peña take turns to cook and keep the place tidy. Some peñas set about organising different events throughout the celebrations; there are darts competitions, five-a-side football tournaments and traditional Valencian Pilota encounters. A few groups are also be prepared to push aside possible hangovers and walk around town letting off firecrackers during the traditional “despertà” – the wake-up call – whilst some have raised funds to support events such as the bull-running and the great “nit dels focs” or will help to erect the “fogueras” for the final night of celebrations. Being part of a peña is an honour and without the hard work from them and the “quintàs”, the fiesta simply wouldn’t survive. |
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FOGUERES
DE SANT JOAN |
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| Updated: Thursday 17th May 2012 |
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