Live News From Spain As It Happens

SUMMER solstice celebrations took place across Spain last night in honour of San Juan, or Saint John - especially on the coast where bonfires were lit on almost every beach in the country.

Rituals vary from region to region, but the most common one in coastal areas involves writing a 'wish list' for the forthcoming year, throwing it on the flames, jumping over the bonfire and running into the sea, then jumping over the next three waves.

This is normally done on the stroke of midnight, or in the early hours, and many swear by the tradition saying their wishes thrown on the fire often come true later.

Elsewhere, families or groups of friends merely sit around their bonfires either on the beach or in their towns, conversing, dining and drinking until the early hours.

Spain's version of 'bonfire night' becomes a week-long celebration in the city of Alicante and several towns and villages in the province - Jávea, on the coast, being the second-most famous - and sees processions in traditional costume, fiesta queens and kings sworn in every year, huge public paellas, open-air theatre, late-night live concerts and discos, and giant monuments set up.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com