Cultural Remembrance: The Importance of the Noche de San Juan in Puerto Rico

Every tradition has to start somewhere. Back home on the island of Puerto Rico, we are getting close to one of the oldest traditions we have, “La Noche de San Juan.” This is one you might have forgotten you celebrated as a kid as the years have gone by and it may appear to be irrelevant now. Each year, two days before the summer solstice, Puerto Ricans on the island gather at their nearest beach or pool of water. Together with their friends and family, they start their night of celebrations with food, drinks, and lots of laughs. Seconds before midnight they gather near the edge of the water and when the clock strikes twelve, they all plunge backwards three times to draw out any negative energy in their life for the rest of the year. This is a tradition where Puerto Ricans can reflect on the first half of their year and contemplate how they want the rest of the year to go. Can you feel the memories flowing back to you? 

Now, you may wonder, “How did this come to be?” Well, it has a religious significance. After the Spaniards arrived at the island of ‘Boriken” (now Puerto Rico), colonists taught their Christian religion to the natives of the island. If you did not know, Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan, was named after San Juan Bautista, aka St. John the Baptist, by none other than Christopher Columbus. The La Noche de San Juan tradition came from celebrating and honoring the birth of San Juan Bautista. So, around the year 1493, these festivities began around the island as a community celebration. Beyond its religious origins, the celebration has evolved into a communal expression of unity, bringing not only the locals but also visitors from around the world interested in taking their turn in experiencing one of our more spiritual traditions.  

From my experience when I was younger, I remember parents making various foods and snacks under the “kiosko” for the long night that we had ahead of us, but my favorite part of the tradition was plunging in the water at the stroke of midnight next to my friends, my clothes getting heavy because of the water as I pull myself up for some air and do it all over again. I was curious to know how many of you celebrated the Noche de San Juan with your family and friends, so here are these other testimonies from Puerto Ricans and their favorite part of the tradition as well as their best memories over the years...  

“Aparte de los eventos y festivales que hacian antes en Vega Baja para las Noches de San Juan, mi memoria favorita era que a la media noche todo el mundo se salia del agua y se paraben en la orilla, con el agua hasta como las rodillas, se agarraban de las manos y a la vez todos se dejaban caer para atras.” – Anonymous  

“Besides the events and festivals they did before in Vega Baja for the Noche de San Juan, my favorite memory was that at midnight everyone would get out of the water, and they would stand on the edge, with the water up to their knees, they held hands and at the same time everyone would let themselves fall backward.” 

“Drinking and being at the Beach” – Claudia  

“I haven’t celebrated it in a bit, but I do remember celebrating it once with my family and friends of my dad, and we had a great time, having a good BBQ and good music.” – Maria  

If you did not know, this tradition is shared by Spaniards along the Mediterranean coast. While the meaning and origin of the tradition is the same, they do have a few differences. Over on the Spanish coasts, locals celebrate by having bonfires, which are thought to burn away any bad memories, and sometimes they even try to jump over the flames to avoid bad luck. They also always have a cake that is covered with dried fruits and pine nuts. Lastly, similar to our plunging in the water, they submerge themselves in the water, not to remove negative energy and bring luck, but to help find a romantic partner.   

Lately, I have been feeling that this tradition is sometimes looked over and used as an excuse to drink and party. Don’t get me wrong, it is not a bad thing to do, this is a time to also have fun with your friends, but the whole meaning behind such tradition is important to remember so that we can continue to showcase this memorable time for the next. We are a strong community, who are proud of our culture, and we should hold on to these traditions and honor them whenever we can. This vibrant tradition not only honors Puerto Rico’s past but also showcases its resilience, creativity, and ability to transform history into a festive gathering for everyone to enjoy. So, if you were not already considering celebrating the Noche de San Juan this year, I hope that this helped you take a moment to reminisce on the memories of your childhood on the island during this unforgettable time.