After lunch, I gave the freezer a long overdue defrost. It was almost a pleasure to scrabble around in the cold when it was so hot outside. Once that was finished, I then set about trying to put the "pub" back in place after all the work that had been going on. It was also an opportunity to start getting rid of some of the clutter.
JJ came for a salad supper before we went down to the recreation ground for the "Feu de St Jean". The name belies the pagan origins of this fête which is still strong in North and South Catalunya. It's celebrated on the eve of the feast of St John, on the summer solstice. A bonfire is lit on the top of Mt Canigou and the flame brought down and taken to towns and villages to light their own fires. Here, some primary school chidren bring in the flame and then lots more and their parents carry lanterns around the village; the sardane is danced, young people jump over the embers of the bonfire and adults buy small bouquets made from 4 Catalan plants tied with a ribbon of "sang et or" stripes (colour of blood and gold). The bouquet should be tied to your door so that good luck and happiness is attracted to the house all year round. Last year's bouquet should be thrown onto the bonfire. The evening was rounded off with some pretty impressive fireworks, and an open air disco. Christian's "inner child" just loved watching the fireworks and he would ooh and aah like a seven year old! And what's wrong with that, I say!
Of course, Nicole, my neighbour, gave us all mini faggots and a bouquet to decorate our doors; so, I've one on the outside and the one I bought, going into the kitchen. Let's hope that I have a double dose of all that's good, this year.
Weather:
34°, humid
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