San Juan, the shortest and most magical night of the year, is approaching. This popular tradition, of pagan origin, has been celebrated since time immemorial during the early hours of the 23rd to the 24th of June, coinciding with the summer solstice. Although its origins are uncertain, you will surely have heard of different rituals to attract love or happiness, scare away evil spirits or get pregnant. The truth is that fertility is a subject that has preoccupied us throughout the ages. Did you know that fertility rituals were celebrated as far back as prehistoric times?
According to historians, the first rites began to be practised around 5,000 BC. At that time, the Celts celebrated the "Alban Heruin", a ritual that consisted of lighting large bonfires to purify their lands and ensure the fertility of their women. For the Druids, the summer solstice was a sacred ceremony, when the people gathered to enjoy music and the telling of folk legends.
The use of fire and the worship of the sun were also present in other cultures throughout history. The Kouros, the Greeks, the Aztecs, the Romans, the Incas and the Berbers are just a few examples.
Most popular fertility rituals on the night of Midsummer's Eve
In Spain, the night of San Juan is based on an adaptation of pagan culture to Christian beliefs. The origins of the current celebration go back to the Holy Scriptures, specifically to the passage that talks about the bonfire that Zechariah lit to celebrate the birth of his son John the Baptist, after the archangel appeared to him in a dream announcing his paternity and he did not believe him.
Even today, many superstitious people still practise rites on the night of St. John. Among the best known are:
- Jumping in the waves of the sea: it is believed that on this night the water has healing properties. According to tradition, bathing in the sea will help us to banish everything negative from our lives and enjoy good health throughout the year. One of the most popular rituals is to jump the waves hand in hand with your partner, at midnight and with your back to the sea. There is some controversy as to the number of times to jump, seven or nine, depending on where you are.
- Jumping the bonfire: tradition says that you have to make a wish while jumping the bonfire a total of seven times. Then you just have to wait for it to come true over time.
- Writing a wish and throwing it into the fire: fire acts as a purifying element. This tradition is perhaps one of the most widely practised and simply consists of writing a wish on a piece of paper and letting it burn in the fire.
- Therapeutic herbs: there are certain plants that are used to make wishes. For example, in Galicia, seven different herbs are collected and together they make up what is known as "hierbas de San Juan". After gathering the different herbs (fennel, fern, mallow, rosemary, lemon verbena, cod and St. John's wort), they are placed in water from seven different sources and left to stand outdoors overnight. The next morning, wash your face with this water to rejuvenate your skin and keep you in good health.
Rituals and traditions aside, the truth is that summer is an ideal season to get pregnant, whether naturally or if you need to undergo fertility treatment.
Reasons to undergo fertility treatment in summer
Why is summer the ideal time to start fertility treatment?
- Lower stress levels: Most people choose summer to take a break and enjoy a few days off. Anxiety can have a very negative effect on our health and, of course, on fertility. For this reason, many people choose this time of year to start fertility treatment. Being relaxed increases the probability of success of assisted reproduction treatment.
- More balanced diets: with the arrival of warm weather, we tend to drink more water and eat more fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables. Maintaining a healthy diet is essential, as it provides us with the nutrients we need for pregnancy to occur.
- Flexible working hours: in summer, many workers have intensive working hours and in general, we tend to have more free time. Even if this is not your case, don't worry because at Barcelona IVF you can choose the date and time that suits you best. We don't close for holidays!
At this point nobody trusts rituals. So if after a year of trying, you still can't get pregnant, put yourself in the hands of a team of professionals. At Barcelona IVF we have a wide variety of methods that you can fully trust. Consult the treatments available at our clinic and tell us about your case and we will help you achieve it!
