Saint John’s night (Donibane Gaua in Euskara) is the Basque equivalent to Midsummer Night: a pagan festivity to honor the shortest night of the year. Although the Summer Solstice is on June 21st, Donibane Gaua is celebrated on June 23rd.
That mystical night, lots of bonfires are lit up all around Euskal Herria and, although there are many beliefs, the most extended tradition says you must write down all the bad things that have happened to you during the last year on a piece of paper, and all the good things you want to happen next year on another one before midnight.
Then, when midnight comes, the “bad things paper” must be burnt in the bonfire, and the “good things paper” must be saved until the next Saint John’s Night. There’s even a saying: to burn the old and to welcome the new.
After everyone has burnt their papers, there are dances around the fire and the bravest ones jump over it to prove they’re worthy of receiving the good things they asked for.
The music clip is Bok Espok by international Basque artist Kepa Junkera, wonderful melody to dance to around the fires ^_^.
(via mirelha)
