The magic of the fire returns by San Juan to the Val d’Aran
On the eve of Saint John the magic of the fire returns to Les and Arties, the villages of the valley that preserve this ancient tradition so rooted in the Pyrenees. Thanks to its designation by Unesco as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Hèstes deth huec 2017 have become one of the main attractions of the Aranese summer, and it is anticipated that the valley will occupy more than 80% next weekend.
For the Tourism and Economic Development Council of Aran, Anna Diaz, “it is a very endearing and popular tradition in which all the inhabitants of the town and also the visitors who are in Val d’Aran at these dates are involved. For this reason they are a great cultural and tourist attraction “.
Between legend and tradition
Both in Les and Arties, it survives the tradition of burning a fir trunk in the longest night of the year (the summer solstice night, on Saint John’s eve). It is a thousand-year-old tradition, which was Christianized however its origins come from a Celtic tradition.
Nonetheless, the Celtic tradition tells that burning the Taro or Haro fertilizes the mother Earth, so that good crops are foreseen.
Crèma deth Taro d’Arties
On Saint John’s night, the taro sets alight and dragged through the streets and squares of Arties, accompanied by music and the cheers of the audience on a until the first hours of the morning and let them just in front of the mayor’s house.
According to tradition, the ashes of taro protected, purified and fertilized, so they are scattered all over town to make evil spirits go away.
Find more about the Origin and development of ritual
Eth Haro de Les
In Les the stage of the ritual is the Plaça deth Haro, where about 10 pm the procession reaches the rhythm of traditional dances is Corbilhuèrs Les. After the blessing and lighting of haro by the local priest, we proceed to burn the halhes, a kind of torches made of cherry bark that are spun in circles and simulating the struggle to purify and burn the evil spirits. The ceremony ends with a dance around the haro, while is served the “vin caud” hot wine with sugar, rum and fruit that is takent with the traditional coca de Sant Joan.
Find more about the Origin and development of ritual