El día 24 de junio de 2010 fuimos a comer en Alicante por mi santo, San Juan, en el restaurante “Los Ibericos” en la Calle Gerona en el centro de Alicante. La comida fue estupenda como siempre y la compañía inmejorable. En la plaza de la Montañeta hice esta foto de la Hoguera antes de ir al restaurante.

Hogueras Plaza Montaña Alicante

Texto y foto de Juan Miguel Vicente Moreno, de VM Solicitors en Torrevieja.

Hogueras poster of the year 2009

The Hogueras Bonfire parties in the city of Alicante, from the 20th till the 24 of June, is one of the most important parties for the city of Alicante to prelude the summer coming to the city. The Hogueras parties are celebrated since the year 1928. The actual celebration of the birthday of “San Juan de Bautista” on these dates is much older but in the year 1928 the Hogueras parties in Alicante got their form in which we celebrate them still.

The Hogueras de San Juan are also celebrated on the same date in towns near Alicante like Elda, Benidorm and San Juan de Alicante. In Valencia there is a similar celebration called Las Fallas that is celebrated in March.

The Hogueras parties in Alicante are celebrated with parades in the street to start the festivities, presenting the different groups and commissions to the public. The groups and commissions arrange the organization of the Hogueras in their part of the city. Each group builds a statue that is a veritable work of art, created during months of building by artists who use materials such as cardboard, wood, paper, paint, etc. The topics are mostly political or remarkable items from the news both local as international.

Hogueras statue in Alicante

There are about 90 different groups throughout the whole city that make a Hoguera statue and that celebrate the festivities in the own district with music, parades and good food & drinks. Each group has its own open-air restaurant called a “barraca” where the whole neighbourhood comes together to eat, drink, enjoy the music and the cosy atmosfere that is so well know for the Hogueras celebrations in Alicante.

The barracas are in some cases only accesible for the members and their guest that have contributed to the Hogueras group the whole year. However there are lots of barracas that are accssible at low entrance fee or even free entry, these you will find mostly in the city centre of Alicante. The barrancas are open-air restaurants with very good menu´s, the traditional paella, Jamon Serrano, fine Manchego cheese and more typical Spanish foods are available till deep in the night. The bar is open all night to serve the ones dancing and enjoying the music that sometimes goes on till 05:00 in the night.

The festivities end on the 24th of June with the burning of the Hogueras statues in the night. The burning of the Hogueras is a spectacular view that can be witnessed in the neighbourhoods. The burning is controlled by the fire department and there is of course a strict schedule set up so that there are never too much fire´s at the same time. The last night of the Hogueras in Alicante is called La Créma, “la nit de foc” in Valenciano.

La Créma, the burning of the Hogueras in Alicante

For the lovers of fireworks there is also more then enough to see, each day at noon there is a big “mascleta” a large firework show with heavy sounds. From the top of the castle of Santa Barbara in the centre of Alicante there is in the nights a precious firework show with the most beautiful settings and colours performed by the master firework makers of the country.

Fireworks in Hogueras Alicante

Have you gotten in the mood to come and visit this spectacular festival in Alicante, we have several holidays homes for rent on just 15 minutes driving from the city of Alicante where you can enjoy the festivities in Alicante in the evening and nights and the lovely beaches of Santa Pola in the day time. Have a look at our website www.bythesea.es for nice holiday homes for rent and for sale in the Costa Blanca area. You can also contact us at taco@bythesea.es or on 0034 687527472 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              0034 687527472      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              0034 687527472      end_of_the_skype_highlighting for bookings and more information.

Check here for cheap flight tickets and availability or low priced rental cars for your stay in Alicante.

Photos: Alicantevivo, playasanjuan

Text: Taco de ByTheSea