It’s an undeniable truth that summer is when our energy is at a peak. We can say without a doubt that the shimmering sun, bustling streets and long days make us feel renewed in the summer. That’s exactly what Barcelona must have thought when it came up with the idea for a traditional festival like Festival de Sant Joan to celebrate the coming of summer. The festival takes place every year from 23–24 June and is renowned for the giant fires that are lit during the festivities. We get the feeling you are asking, ‘Why fire?’ Actually, the festival has three symbols - fire, water and herbs - but fire is the one that attracts the most attention. The fire symbolizes purity, the water symbolizes healing and the herbs, which are gathered throughout the day, symbolize health. In fact, if you see people in the city washing their faces with herbal water in the morning or staying in the sea all day, don’t be surprised. Without giving it another thought, take the plunge and become part of the tradition. The Festival de Sant Joan combines entertainment with cultural rituals and also has a spectacular fireworks display which you should make sure not to miss.