Dia di San Juan, Dia di San Pedro & San Pablo
Stemming from Spanish Catholic influence, Dia di San Juan, Dia di San Pedro & San Pablo celebrate Saint Feast days coinciding with key seasonal events on Bonaire. Celebrations, lasting entire days and nights, take place still today. The religious side included fire, for light, jumping and dancing around in an effort to impress the urgency of requests made to God. The party side included serenades at friends and family houses named for the Saint’s days also.
June 24: Feast Day of St. John - sowing time after harvest. The Lord was asked via San Juan (St. John) to bring rain and calm strong winds of April, May and June.
June 29: Feast Days of St. Peter & St. Paul - time of hard winds. Bonaireans asked the Lord via San Pablo (St. Paul) to calm the winds and via San Pedro (St. Peter) the fisherman asked to bring Bonaire’s men home safely from sea.