June 24th is a public holiday here in Alicante, and the week leading up to it is an orgy of street parties with the ensuing crowds and traffic chaos. Especially this year, since it was the first time the events could be held since 2019, so people were really up for it. Around the city there were huge installations of figures, all to be burned at midnight on the 24th. Those statues are known as hogueras, a name which is also used to denote the entire holiday.
I stayed away from the nightly celebrations, but I did stop in the city a couple of times on my way home from work to photograph the hogueras and the people looking at them.
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My first stop was Plaza Seneca, a residential neighbourhood a bit away from the main touristy areas. The locals were out in force to look and discuss:
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The hogueras often refer to current issues, so it is not surprising to see Covid reflected here:
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I moved on to Plaza Canalejas, at the southern end of the main coastal pedestrian street:
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This hoguera had an LGBT theme. Few people were around because it is not a very convenient spot for people to gather:
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At the other end of the Esplanada, another hoguera, with lots of people around, since it is close to the main beach in the centre and some large hotels which right now are full of visitors:
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As is often the case, the main figure has two faces; in the front, a pretty woman:
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In the back, a pirate:
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And this must be considered Alicante’s main hoguera, on the square in front of City Hall:
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Again, a double-headed main figure:
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Besides the main figures, the installations usually contain smaller details, often with a message, like this one, promoting the use of the Valenciano language:
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Just about 100 meters away there is another hoguera, on Calle Jorge Juan:
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A closer view:
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Lots of posing, lots of photos:
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Back on Plaza del Ayuntamiento, two men in festive clothing taking a break from whatever they were doing (I have no idea of the event in which they were participating):
