Real Mallorcans do not much value or even, worship the sun. Far from it. They fear and respect the sun for its unforgiving strength and harsh impact on the land, the crop, plants and animals. On the island, country houses used to be built with few windows and small ones in size at that, just to keep the heat out.

Once a year, though, the sun is celebrated, almost as a deity. That will be tonight, the Nit de Sant Joan, when the sun’s Summer solstice is celebrated, or Midsummer Night. There will be fires on some beaches, such as in Cala Sa Nau. In Palma, there will be a Correfoc (Fire Run) at the Parc de la Mar. The Festival de Sant Joan (Festival of Saint John) is really tomorrow, June 24th. It will be celebrated in style at 06h30 at the Santuari de la Mare de Déu de Consolació just outside of the pueblo of Sant Joan, in the middle of the island, in an act called El Sol Que Balla (the dancing sun). If you go there you might be invited for a drink of hot chocolate and even, a freshly baked ensaïmada.

The photo was taken near Petra, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: March 30th, 2012. The time was 07:41:13.