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 by Aitana
The mascletá takes place during the Hogueras de San Juan, the main festival of Alicante, between June 19 and 24. These days, punctually at 14:00, the pyrotechnic spectacle starts.
We like the smell of the gunpowder and the noise and almost everybody come close to the Plaza de los Luceros to hear the immense noise of the mascletá.
I am writing this tip on June 24 2009, a few hours after enjoying the last mascletá of this year.
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The main festival in Alicante takes place in June: we celebrate the summer solstice burning bonfires on June 24 at midnight. As June 24 is the festivity of Saint John the Baptist, the bonfires are named after him.
The bonfires are monuments of papier-machê and other combustible materials (the structure is made of wood) that satirize public figures and current events, always with humor. There is a hoguera (foguera in Valencian language) at every neighborhood. They are built a few days before and prices are given according to the category of the monuments.
For more pictures, see my travelogues of Hogueras de San Juan 2007 and 2009.
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Every neighborhood builds a hoguera but also a hoguera infantile, made for children. They are smaller, placed a few meters from the main one and the figures (ninots) usually are very friendly. They burn before the big hogueras.
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 by Aitana
They fence part of a street and the gates of the barracas are made also like the bonfires. In fact, they are burnt together with the hogueras the last night.
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In the Town Hall Square the official hoguera is built every year. This is the first monument that burns on the night of June 24.
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During the Hogueras de San Juan, many girls and young women wear the regional dress. Also some men dress it, though the male is not so bright and colorful. There are many parades and events where they sport their colorful dresses.
Women that take active part in these parades and events, wearing the typical dress, are called belleas. La bellea del foc (the fire beauty) is the one selected to represent all of them, as a festival queen.
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This giants and the other figures with a large head, the cabezudos, take part in small parades in festivals as in the Hogueras de San Juan and other events.
The giants represent peasants, a Christian King and Queen and a Moorish King and Queen.
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Although most restaurant staff speak english, this is an ideal way of testing out your spanish skills like I did. I did not realise how much I had actually learnt at college. It was fun and the locals liked it that we were making an effort to speak their language!
Try the local dishes (piealla) I did like the chicken dish and for seafood lovers, you will love it. Leave a Comment
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 by Sergioalc
--- Photo: fireworks in the Hogueras 'Fiesta' with crowds of people in the 'Postiguet' beach. Leave a Comment
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 by DanielFLeave a Comment
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