Today, 21 June, is the longest day of the year: the summer solstice. Strictly speaking, St John’s Night itself falls on the night of 23–24 June, the vigil of the feast of St John the Baptist. Although in many places the two dates are now often conflated and celebrations begin this week, technically they are different events. I mention this because every year someone in the group seems confused about it, and it’s worth clarifying.
In Spain, the night of San Juan is one of the most significant nights in the folk calendar, particularly in Galicia, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands. There are bonfires on the beach or in the village, pieces of paper with wishes written on them that are burnt in the fire, seawater that is said to bring good luck, jumping over the flames, and in many places a night that lasts until sunrise. It is one of those rituals that anyone who experienced it as a child will not easily forget.
In Switzerland, ‘Johannisnacht’ is a folk tradition in some municipalities, particularly in German-speaking Switzerland and certain parts of French-speaking Switzerland, but the communal aspect is much less pronounced. It is not a night when people take to the streets in large numbers. The big public celebration, with bonfires visible from afar and fireworks, takes place here on 1 August, the national holiday. That event does carry comparable symbolic significance. The summer solstice, or St John’s Eve, on the other hand, passes relatively quietly. If you see a bonfire in a Swiss municipality this Friday, it means you’ve stumbled upon one of the few places where the tradition is still alive. Such places are few and far between.