Latin América; The Eve of San Juan, and its celebration with elements of Christian and pagan origin.
The Feast of Saint John the Baptist also called Saint John's Eve or the Night of Saint John, is the Christian celebration prior to the festivity of the birth of Saint John the Baptist on June 24. In European-Mediterranean countries, the making of bonfires is usually a common element that after colonization still remains a religious tradition in many Latin American countries.
In South America (during these dates when the winter solstice approaches) it is celebrated especially in the northeast of Argentina, Brazil (the Festas Juninas), Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, in the latter and due to the enormous influence of the Portuguese and Spanish in the country, the festival on the eve of San Juan is also related to ancient Ibero-American traditions and legends such as the famous "Leyenda de la Encantada" (the legend of the Enchanted).
The Christian festival of Saint John is June 24, six months before the eve of the prophet's birth (December 24). These six months are the difference that the gospels indicate between one birth and another.
Although historically the festival of San Juan would have nothing to do with the pagan celebrations of the summer solstice (Litha), it is common for them to mix with each other in countries like Venezuela where the mixture of traditions and cultures is quite common.
"During this eve the Churches decorate the altars in which the image of Saint John the Baptist is seen together with the prophet, drums are played for long hours and in caravans around the streets, where all kinds of spirits are also distributed to mark the beginning of the festivity. On the morning of the 24th, the image of the saint is taken from the place where it was kept for a year and is carried on the head or on the shoulders of the person who is named its guardian, who in this case is the owner from the place where the image was sheltered, it is a journey that is made through the entire town or community where the celebration is held until reaching the church where they culminate with the celebration of a mass and the fabulous beating of the drums."
- Asun Lujan.
Practically throughout Latin America, the Night of San Juan is celebrated following the practices carried out by the Spanish and Portuguese, and other European migrants (mainly Italians and Germans), in certain areas syncretized with indigenous and even Afro elements. In the territories where the population of European origin is the majority, the rituals are more similar to those of Europe with less influence from indigenous cultures.
Because most of South America lies south of the equator in the southern hemisphere, the days around June 21 (austral winter solstice) of the celebration are the shortest of the year. For this reason, the Mapuche festivity called We Tripantu corresponds to the new year. In general, it is a mixture of indigenous celebrations influenced by Christian-Spanish customs, giving rise to a large number of rites and traditions, such as seeing a fig tree bloom and hiding three potatoes for luck.
The traditions vary from country to country, although always keeping in common certain elements such as fire and the party;
In Argentina, bonfires are lit in towns and neighborhoods and sometimes a human effigy is raised to represent Judas, which is also burned in the bonfire (which is also done in certain towns in Venezuela).
In Bolivia, bonfires are made between family members and not between neighbors, and it is the moment to burn the wooden furniture and old things that have accumulated during the year, in order to say goodbye to everything old. Barbecues are also held and games are played jumping over the fire.
In Chile these traditions have a huge religious connotation and social conflict in relation to indigenous peoples; In this country, the conquerors prohibited the Machaq Mara and We Tripantu festivities (solstice festival that marks the beginning of the year for Aymaras and Mapuches) assuring that it was a celebration of the Christian devil.
Due to the above, the tradition related to the Night of San Juan in Chile eminently refers to popular beliefs related to the figure of the Devil. Regional folklore tells that on this festivity the devil comes out to dance and tempt, and to play tricks on the infidels and unbelievers. It is also a holiday related to the darker aspects of witchcraft, such as invocations, devil pacts, and the act of casting curses.
In Colombia, this festivity is marked by the realization of typical meals, fireworks towers, bullfighting, and music festivals. Beyond the celebration of the Saint, celebrating these dates is considered an omen of prosperity for the rice and coffee crops.
In Costa Rica, a variety of bonfires are held in various places, but mostly the celebration consists of village festivals and folkloric songs.
In Cuba, two different festivities are celebrated around the Saint. on June 24, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, and on August 29, the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. Here the festivities last five days and include a parade of "comparsas" and congas through the main streets.*
*A comparsa is a folk ensemble of singers, musicians, and dancers whose job is to animate festivals and parades throughout the year, Venezuela comparsas include ensembles of Flamenco dancers and Gaiteros (musicians who play traditional December protest music to dance rhythm).
In Panama, San Juan Bautista is the patron saint of the cities of Chitré and Aguadulce, and they celebrate it with religious and pagan acts of all kinds. Religious novenas, processions, folkloric presentations, dances, parades, bullfights, and festivals of a great religious variety.
In Paraguay, these festivities include traditional games and contests with native names in Guarani to honor the indigenous culture. It is here where the unusual "pelota-tata" (grandfather ball) is celebrated, which consists of making a ball with old rags, covering it with oil or kerosene, lighting it on fire, and kicking it with the tiptoes on one side. to another. In addition, you walk on fire and it is common to find people spitting fire in the corners.
In the jungles of Peru, "blessed baths" are held, where a witch or a healer guides people to the rivers, lakes, springs, or bathrooms in each house, because on these dates the water is blessed by the presence of Saint Juan, and these waters are healing. In the rest of the country, the San Juan Eve festivities are huge and include all kinds of costume parades, festivals, events, and stops to pray to the saint.
In Puerto Rico it is customary during these festivities to throw yourself into the sea seven times, in order to get rid of bad luck, baptisms are also performed on the beach and old things are buried on the beach to let the sea take away the sorrows and all the anguish
In Venezuela (finally, uff, this took me a minute) the fireworks of the night of San Juan are celebrated in various regions of the country, from there it is believed that the night of June 23 is magical and all the plants that are collected between sunset and sunrise are blessed by San Juan. In general, in the cities, sensual dances are celebrated to the rhythm of the drums, and songs and prayers are improvised carrying colored cloths in their hands to move the air and disperse the prayers to heaven.
Believing that wishes will come true on this night is reminiscent of ancient pagan and indigenous traditions. Traditionally, it is believed that the living were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last day of the year, and for this reason, the year is lit with bonfires in the mountains, to remember and honor our indigenous ancestors who were burned when they died. Many people, especially children, wrap themselves in shrouds symbolically recreating visits to seven churches.
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