Celebrations of “San Juan” , on th 24th of June

Known as St John´s or in a more pagan manner as Witch´s night, the celebrations begin on the 23rd when people start to set up camp on the beaches of Almuñecar, especially Velilla. They build enormous bonfires, tradition dictating that they must be made with items thought to be responsible for making the previous year unpleasant, so that they can disappear forever. Religious or pagan it is a magical night where wishes are made on the stroke of midnight whilst swimming in the sea. Those not brave enough to jump in can wash their faces in the water to get rid of negativity and ensure enhanced beauty during the rest of the year, or in a stream if they are searching for their true love.

After midnight and just in time to warm up after your swim the giant bonfires go up in flames and lots of drinking and eating goes on until the early hours. It is the one night of the year when it is legal to camp and have fires on the beach and you will see lots of tents going up. The younger generation let their imaginations go free and decorate their tents with colourful lights and loud sound systems. The people of Almuñecar love this celebration and will spend not just the eve of San Juan but the entire day itself without leaving the beach. It is customary to eat a bread elaborated using olive oil which has a baked egg in the middle.

Practically all the village establishes itself on the beaches with tents , spending all the night and the following day on them. The beach “Playa de Velilla” is , without doubt , the most crowded beach of those of Almuñécar through the young people where they give vent to their feelings and imagination designing the tents that install coloured lights in an atmosphere of music. It’s a celebration that many people of Almuñécar like to enjoy , they are happy and proud of sharing it with the visitors to this municipality .