The Bonfires / Las Hogueras

Julian tells you about local Bonfire Night:

One of the most important events of the year in the place where I live is the day of the bonfires. This event takes place every year on the nights of the sixth and the seventh of December in Castille-La Mancha and especially in Miguelturra and Pozuelo. On this night all kinds of people - children, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens - gather together with their friends and families and enjoy food, drink and a lot of laughs around a bonfire. The bonfires are very important for me because they are an old tradition. Originally bonfires were lit to drive away evil spirits because the next day was the day of the Immaculate Conception. This is a religious tradition but nowadays most children and young people don´t know anything about this and don´t care. In the future nobody will know why they are celebrating this day. And yet, two weeks before this night we are all excited waiting for it to arrive. We go to the supermarket and buy everything we need to celebrate. My friends and I contribute 20 euros each and with that we have enough for two days. This is an amazing night when we spend a really special moment around the fire.

Celia tells us more about this special night:

Bonfire Night has always been celebrated. Oral tradition says that we light fires to purify our souls and to put an end to everything that is bad. In reality, this is half a ritual, half an attempt to be sheltered on a cold night. The bonfires used to be lit close to churches or hermitages, but today they are familiar, kids light them in many different places. Some people go with musical instruments from one bonfire to another, without forgetting to eat and drink. The children are the ones in charge of gathering the firewood for the bonfire days before.