The impressive fire of the feast of Saint John in Alesund

The greatest joy of the world is in Norway

Everyone has heard of the feast of Saint John. Celebrated throughout Europe but also in Canada and parts of the United States, this Christian feast is the feast of Saint John the Baptist. The holy day was set on June 24, but the festivities usually take place on the eve of Saint John. Traditionally, the feast of Saint John is often accompanied by lights of joy. In many countries, fire is lit in the evening and people sing and dance around it.

In Porto, Portugal, the feast of Saint John is very popular, it welcomes thousands of people who have come to celebrate with the locals one of the biggest and most fun festivals in Europe. It is very appreciated by tourists and the inhabitants of the city are very proud. The festivities of Saint John are also celebrated everywhere in Norway , but the most impressive of them, takes place in the city of Alesund .

To see the greatest fire in the world, it is enough to go to this city where the festivities have taken on a whole other scale and the lights on them are of an extreme size...

On the occasion of the feast of the Saint John, known as “Slinningsbålet” in Alesund, wood pallets are stacked and sometimes reach up to 40 metres high. In 2010, a record was struck with a fire of more than 45 metres high, the previous record was 1993 and the fire was 37 metres high. More than 30 to 40 people meet each year to build this huge wooden box tower, which will finally take fire on the eve of June 24. Built on an artificial island, the tower does not pose any danger because when it is overthrown, it immediately falls to water!

Whether you’re an amateur or not at this party, one thing is sure that of Alesund is not to be missed under any pretext! Impressive and unique, the flamboyant tower celebrates the feast of Saint John as nowhere else on this planet!

Main photo credit: Flickr – Geir Halvorsen