The Mystical Midsummer Solstice ...night of witches

Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year , the day of the year when the night and day are of equal length and in ancient times this was considered the most important event of the solar year .It's a night full of magical traditions historic superstitions and cleanising reituals that is celebrated all over Spain and particulary along the Mediterranean Coast (Balearic Islands ,Valencian Comunity ,Catalonia... ) and in Galicia  

Here in Spain we call it " Noche de San Juan " Night of Saint John (the Baptist) and I could say this night sets Spain on fire .It's one of those elusive Spanish holidays that lies somewhere between a religious traidition of Saint John's day ( june24th)  and a pagan celebration of the June 21st Summer solstice  . 

The celebration typically begins at midnight on June 23th with the lighting of large nonfires ( Preferably on the beach ) 

It's typical to dine outside with family and friends .On the Mediterranean Coast especially in Catalonia ,Valencia and Balearic Islands the most typical food is the Coca the Sant Joan ,which despite a range of varieties is usually a sweet coca ( like a round flatbread or brioche ) made with flowr ,sugar ,egges ,yeast ,lemon peel which is rolled out flat covered with candied fruit baked  .
source Foods from Spain  

Fire and water are the protagonists of the night...fire uses to be the symbol of abundance, purity and fertility; that is why fire is the central element of this Festival in the form of fireworks and bonfires on the beaches.

It's the the "Night of Witches "and it is said that on the Night of Saint Joan, witches and druids (Akelarre) gather all over the region to strengthen and develop their magical and extraordinary powers At these gatherings, the witches distribute their elixirs and love potions. According to popular legend, the angel of love comes out this night only, striking people into love with his bow and arrow

  

According to tradition at 12:00 at night they burn the popular bonefires and young people leap the coals and bathing in the sea, asking for three wishes.They say if people jump three times over a bonfire on San Juan's night, they will be cleansed and purified, and their problems burned away.

When is relatively safe to jump over the bonfire ,it's done three times (although it could also be nine or any number) for good luck at the cry of "Meigas fora"  (witches off) .It's also common to drink Queimada (flaming Galician punch )  ,a beverage resulting from setting alight Spanish "Aguardiente/Orujo "  mixed with sugar ,coffee beans and pieces of fruit which is prepared while chanting an incantation against evil spirits .Everyone should try it at least once ...it's delicious!! 

At midnight, everybody can participate in the ritual of fire purification. The tradition is, that you should write on a paper the things you want to change in your life, throw it into the flames and then jump three times.

I love this mystical and magic night ...it's like traveling through time and plunging into a celtic dream .The celebrations of the shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere signifies the triumph of light over darkness.

The beaches filled with hundred of fires burning is a stunning spectacle ,the fires will be lit at midnight but will continue to burn all night until the dawn breaks over the Mediterranean sea ...this is the one night of the year when you will be allowed to camp overnight on the beach 



         "Great spirits of fire, grow and consume this habit of evil so goodness may bloom." :)

the power of creativity doesn't have limit ...

Costa Da Morte (Shore of Death ),   a coastline of matchless beauty, where time appears to have stood still and the air is drenched in legend and mystery. This is the name given to the long stretch of coast lying in the north-west Coast  of  Spain  . On the A Costa da Morte nature has a soul; this is a land of enchanted landscapes .It comes as no surprise to learn of the pantheism of the peoples that worshiped the sun, the rocks and nature long before the coming of Christianity.

Right on that  place Antón García- Abril and Ensamble Studio have built "La Trufa" or truffle .
 Things  like this reaffirms the power of  creativity doesn't  have limit ...

La trufa ( the truffle )  is what one might call a solid bit of work, made of concrete in a very unusual fashion .The Truffle is a piece of nature built with earth, full of air. A space within a stone that sits on the ground and blends with the territory.The architect writes in Abitare that "what we had created was not yet architecture, we had fabricated a stone."

It camouflages, by emulating the processes of mineral formation in its structure, and integrates with the natural environment, complying with its laws

They were even more innovative in how they removed the interior straw formwork . To empty the interior, the calf Paulina arrived, and enjoyed the 50m3 of the nicest food, from which she nourished for a year until she left her habitat, already as an adult and weighing 300 kilos. :D

To provide the space with all the comfort and the living conditions needed in architecture, they  took the “Cabanon” of Le Corbusier as motif, recreating its program and dimensions. It is the “Cabanon of Beton” the reference that makes the truffle an enjoyable living space in nature, that has inspired and subdued us.

They say :"the lesson learnt  is the uncertainty that led us in the desire to build with our own hands, a piece of nature, a contemplative space, a little poem."

 "Someone said about Costa Da Morte :"Delve into the sights and sounds of the Costa da Morte and you will enter a parallel world of light and shadow, where the sea breezes gently caress or mercilessly lash you, a world of whispering voices and of tempest and calm. A world which will awaken all your senses, even thosethat are in the deepest of slumbers. This is the place where everything commences as the starting point is also the place where everything comes to an end..."

Don't you think "La Trufa" could be a perfect place to take yourself into the paralel world of light and shadow of  the Shore of Death ? ...