Prizes Entered of Bands

Better Entry of Bands Huts

Barraca Pares i Fills. San Isidro.

Parade of Commissions

Better Collas de Dolçaina Entered of Bands 2009

Cavalcade of the Ninot

Later, in the XIX Century, this custom transferred to the city. This can be verified, as the first documented history of these simple bonfires goes back to the year 1822, with an edict issued by the Mayor which ordered: “…that bonfires were not to be made in the streets and by no means were firecrackers to be let off, on the night of San Juan and the following nights, subject to a fine of 20 to 100 Reales.”

The corresponding edict was not issued in 1881, and according to a newspaper of the time, “…After the festivities began with the verbena de San Juan (a dance held in the streets), the peaceful inhabitants were allowed to let off firecrackers, and light bonfires to their heart’s content.” Taking advantage of the fact that it was no longer forbidden, neighbours from the same streets gathered together and started what was known as festes de carrer (street parties), with popular games, music and the appearance of the forerunners of the ninots (satirical ornamental figures). These neighbourhood bonfires continued in spite of the constant bans.

In 1928 the association called Alicante Atracción, was created, to encourage tourism to the city. With this aim in mind, the Town Hall gave them the authority to organize the first hogueras de San Juan festivities on an official basis. Within a few years, there were more than thirty Hogueras, and in 1932 the maximum representation of the Festivity was established, Bellesa del Foc (The Beauty Queen of Fire).

The present-day Hogueras

Las Hogueras de San Juan effigies have been declared Festivities of International Tourist Interest and they are the most important festivity in the City of Alicante.

Nowadays, nearly 90 hogueras(huge effigies to be burnt) are set up in the city of Alicante, and there are more than ten thousand direct participants of the Festivity, in which the Comisiones de Hogueras (committees in charge of each particular effigy) and Comisiones de Barracas. (committees who control the open-air spaces with bars, dance areas and tables and chairs) play an important role. These festivities are also held in other towns in the Region of Valencia, mainly in the province of Alicante, such as Benidorm, Torrevieja or Xàbia, but also in Nules, in the province of Castellón, as an exception.

Among the main acts, we must single out the plantà (setting up) of the hogueras and barracas, las mascletaes, (firecrackers) the parades, the offering of flowers, la cremà and the firework displays, from the 25th onwards.

Tags: alicante, bonfires, effigies, festivivities, guide, hogueras, juan
]]> http://www.ciberfallas.net/information/practical-guide-2009-bonfires-of-san-juan/feed/ 0 http://www.ciberfallas.net/news/hogueras-de-san-juan-2009-in-alicante/ http://www.ciberfallas.net/news/hogueras-de-san-juan-2009-in-alicante/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:49:55 +0000 papaoso http://www.ciberfallas.net/?p=733 The night of San Juan is cause for celebration in many towns and villages around the Region of Valencia. In the city of Alicante, the San Juan Bonfires are a great event, deemed to be of International Tourist Interest.

The hogueras are impressive giant papier-mâché figures set up all around the city and are the focal point of this celebration. These magnificent sculptures, which are constructed throughout the year, are made up of ninots, grotesque figures that express popular sentiment about topical issues.

All around Alicante the streets are festooned and barracas or stands are set up where revellers can have lunch, dinner and generally celebrate. The fronts of these stands, which end up being burned on the 24th, compete in beauty, art and colour, and prizes are awarded to the best.

From 20th to 24th June, mascletaes, festivities and bull fighting will be revolutionising the city of Alicante: on Saturday, 20th June, at midnight, the frantic activity of foguerers and barraquers will fill each neighbourhood when the statues are put up during the Plantà de les Fogueres. An evening of restrained emotion will lead into the activities planned for Sunday. On 21st and 22nd June, at around 8 p.m., the traditional Floral Offering will take place, finishing in the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás. Proceedings will be brought to a close on Sunday by the ‘queen’ of the celebrations the Bellesa Major Infantil, Cristina María Rodríguez and on Monday 22nd June by the Bellesa del Foc d’Alacant, Miriam Toré Navalón.

On Wednesday, the International Folklore Parade will fill the streets of Alicante with an extraordinary display of colour. Groups from all over Spain and around the world will be taking part. And finally, on 24th June, at midnight, a monumental white blaze of fireworks will be launched from the top of Mount Benacantil, marking the start of the Cremà, or burning, of thousands of hogueras and barracas.