American writer Cormac McCarthy once said: “Keep a little fire burning: however small, however hidden.”
This is what the people from Alicante do, they always keep a fire burning, however deep inside their soul, it’s always there, burning. I also have that fire. Sometimes small, sometimes big, it’s always part of me.
Some time ago, I wrote a post about fireworks in Alicante. https://monica-etcheverry.uk/i-smell-gun-powder-are-you-ready-for-fiesta/ Well, here’s another celebration! Saint John’s Day. This is 24th June and that night, there’s fire in all the city. Big fires.
For this celebration, there are 91 effigies that are distributed in every neighbourhood. Each of them gorgeous! The farmers celebrated the longest day of the year to harvest the crops and the shortest night to destroy evils. Later this custom was passed on to the city as Alicante and its orchards have always been linked. Thus, the first documentary evidence of these primitive bonfires dates back to 1822, through an order published by the Mayor who ordered: “…that bonfires are not to be lit in the streets, nor are shots or rockets to be fired on the night of San Juan and successive nights, under penalty of a fine of 20 to 100 Reales.” One year, 1881, the Mayor, by mistake, forgot to publish the prohibition of the bonfires and the people burnt them on the streets. They also played games and shared their food.
It was not until 1928 that they were official and that year, they were a success! There were more than one hundred thousand people that came to see the “cremà”. This is the word used to call the action of burning the effigies.
This “cremà” is really special due to the fact that they are dangerous, not only because of the big fire but also because it is summer in Spain at that time, and therefore, it is very, very hot, even at night. Nevertheless, people love it and when it is possible they try to go from one bonfire to another one. A good equipment to see them is to wear shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops, you can also carry a towel – many people do this! Why a towel???? Do they also burn the towels ???????? No. That is because there are firemen all around the bonfire and they throw water to the nearby buildings to prevent any unexpected fire apart that one from the bonfire. Then, they soak the people watching.
I was once waiting for the cremà of the bonfire in my neighbourhood. All of a sudden, the firemen arrived. They prepared all the surroundings by placing the water hoses and ensured they were working properly. I was there, on the front line, looking at everything, keeping an eye on every single movement. It was my first time at a cremà. I was curious, excited, happy, anxious!
Ready, steady, FIRE!!!!!!!!! It was such a nice experience to see the tall bonfire burning!!! The firemen throwing water all around and all the people started jumping asking them for WATER! WATER! I was one of them, and I was totally dry until all of a sudden, a fireman who was near me saw I was the only one in the group who was dry… he looked at me smiling and blasted me with water from head to toes!!!! I loved it. First time experiencing the heat of a giant bonfire and then, being soaked in water at 3am in the middle of the street!!
Later on, I thought I had already felt that way before in my life. Being on fire during struggles and then feeling refreshed when they were over. Baseball player Leon Brown’s words come to my mind: “Become the person you were meant to be, light your inner fire and follow your heart’s desire.”
However small, however hidden, I always keep my inner fire, I follow my heart’s desire.