“St John has it all, St John gives it all”
Today is a special day to stay in a little town in the north centre of the Venezuelan coast; specifically in Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda and Vargas states. Today, people from these towns celebrate, to the drum beat, San Juan Bautista’s day. It is a pagan festivity that shows the Venezuelan cultural fusion, influenced by Catholicism and the African rituals.
June 24th is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. It welcomes Summer time and announces the arrival of the raining season. These villagers decorate San Juan’s altars, commemorate his wake and drink alcohol all they long. At each stop they do during the procession of the saint, they dance the Venezuelan rhythm of the drums. It never stops. It’s a fascinating, unforgettable and magic day, full of surprises. “St John has it all, St John gives it all”.
By Carla Soto
Picture: http://tupaginalatina.com/la-fiesta-de-san-juan-en-venezuela/