Origin

The Feast of Saint John has deep roots that go back to ancient popular traditions. In the past, on the eve of Saint John’s Day, the locals would climb up to the chapel of Sant Joan to celebrate the festival together. Lighting the great bonfire at the hermitage marked the start of the festivities and served as a signal for the neighboring villages to light their own fires. While the celebration at the hermitage took place around the fire, in the villages, people gathered for communal dinners where coca, mistela, and fireworks set the stage for a long night of festivities.