Bonfires, Cakes ... and Dancing Eggs? - Summer is here in Barcelona!

The summer has arrived, and tomorrow night Spain celebrates the traditional Summer Soltice (Nit de Sant Joan in Barcelona). For almost 500 years this holiday has been observed every year without fail in the city of Barcelona. Coindicing with Saint John's day on June 24 (a national holiday), the evening celebrations focus on bonfires at the beach and eating the traditional Coques cakes (available in any bakery throughout the day, although many people preorder them to make sure they get theirs).

But the most curious part of the celebration in Catalunya is the Ou com Balla (Dancing Egg festival), which takes place throughout the city. The tradition consists in placing a hollowed egg on a fountain and letting it "dance" on the water. According to legend if it stays up all day without falling it will bring good luck for the year.

Some places to check it out in Barcelona include the Cathedral (where it has been practiced since the 16th century), The Frederic Mares Museum in the old Royal Palace, the courtyard of the Royal Archives (Palua de lloctinent in the Plaza del Rei), and the Casa de la Ardiaca in front of the Plaza Nova and the Roman gates.

For more information or for help planning your own private tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013 or info (at) the spanishtouch.com.