This year I was fortunate enough to be invited by my friend from Spain to spend a week with her and her family. I just couldn’t refuse this opportunity. The last time I went was in 2019 and my Spanish could use some real-life practice.
They very kindly waited for me at the airport in Valencia and then drove me to their home, though the journey took a bit longer due to the traffic, as it was the St John’s night (la Noche de San Juan – 23rd June), which is a big thing in Valencian Community. And I was to experience it all.
However, being the shy introvert I am, I was shocked that when we arrived, I was greeted by a dozen Spaniards at my friend’s house who came to celebrate. While I was tired from travelling the whole day, I didn’t want to miss out on this, FOMO at its finest. So I sat there listening to the mixture of English, Spanish and Valencian, trying to process everything that was going on, but the truth is I could only think about food.
I tend to have dinner pretty early, in summer maybe around 6pm. But in Spain, I was laughed at for this habit of mine. That day we had dinner at 10:30pm and it was amazing. Everyone who came brought some traditional dish just for me to try. We had coca, which is a Valencian version of pizza (and also a sweet cake and something similar to the Mexican tortilla – they’re not really creative with their names, are they? But they later explained that coca probably meant some kind of dough and that’s why), ensaladilla – tuna, potato and mayo salad, some other salad whose name I don’t remember, cheese, meat and I don’t even know what else. I wanted to try everything but not being used to eating that late, my stomach was confused.
Before midnight, we went to the beach, which was maybe 2 minutes from my friend’s house. Apparently, in that area it is common to have one house near the beach where you spend summer and another one in the town.
La Noche de San Juan is supposed to be a very special night when your wishes come true. People make bonfires at the beach (this is the only day it’s allowed) and at midnight, you go into the sea and jump over the waves. How many waves it is, however, remains a mystery. Some say 3, others 10, or any other number, too. After completing this challenge, you wish for something. Interestingly, in Slovakia we used to have a similar tradition but instead of the waves (which we don’t really have in this lovely in-land country), people jumped over the bonfire.
Being there with my belly full of Spanish/ Valencian delicacies, jumping over waves at midnight in the warm sea surrounded by the light from the bonfires, the Latino music blasting from the nearby chiringuito and the friendliest people I just met, I could not feel more alive.
And what happens next? Well, if you’re Spanish, party till the morning! But for me, sleep it was.
