🔥 Ruben Hernandez opened the 2025 Fire Festivals in Alicante with a touching ode to women
👗 The famous haute couture designer dedicated the gala prologue to “all the women of Alicante”
🏛 Mayor Luis Barcala: "It was emotional and sincere. A real Alicante spirit"
Alicante, June 7, 2025.
Renowned fashion designer Rubén Hernández officially opened the 2025 San Juan Fire Festival (Les Fogueres de Sant Joan) with a poignant speech dedicated to all the women of Alicante . The speech focused on his mother, Josefina , whom he called “my treasure with a woman’s name.”
✨ Touching prologue: “Woman is my goddess of inspiration”
On stage in his native Plaza de Santa Cruz, the designer expressed:
"I am proud of my festival, my land and my people - the foguerers and barraquers who fill Alicante with fire, music and art. You are the true Souls of Fire."
Hernandez recounted how he grew up in a poor but warm family in the Santa Cruz neighborhood, and how his childhood fantasy was already built around the Bellea del Foc models and the boxes from which he “built his first festas.” He remembered his mother as a talented seamstress from whom he received everything: “She taught us to live with love, respect and modesty.”
"Alicantiyka is the muse of my career. Without the women of my city, I would have achieved nothing. I dedicate every stitch to them."
👑 Belleas del Foc and a tribute to tradition
The evening was also marked by the participation of the Belleas del Foc 2025 - Adriana Vico and Valentina Tarraga , their Dames of Honour and representatives of the Festival Council. Each of them, according to Hernández, "embodies the soul of the city and the dignity of its traditions."
🎺 Musical tribute: "Música per a una Festa"
More than 1,100 musicians, under the direction of conductor Miguel Ángel Mas Mataix, performed the passo doble "Josep Amand Tomás" , dedicated to the veteran of the Fogueres , who has been devoted to the festival for 50 years and is now president of the Federació de Fogueres Especials .
During the ceremony at the monument to the fallen foguerers, Thomas remembered all those who passed away in 2025, calling them participants in the symbolic “Foguera dels Núvols” – “Fire installation on the clouds”, where the flame of memory burns every year.
🚶 Festive procession and fireworks
🎉 The evening ended with the Prologue Parade from Plaza de España to the City Council Square , where the following people joined in the poignant speech:
- Mayor Luis Barcala
- Holiday Consultant Kristina Kutanda
- Belleas del Foc and their Ladies
- President of the Federation - David Olivares
- Dozens of fogueres and barracas commissions with flags, music and history
The celebration continued with verbena at the Ocean Race port and ended with a bright fireworks display , symbolizing the start of the hottest week of the year in Alicante.
🎆 Alicante is burning in the fire of tradition — Les Fogueres have begun
The 2025 fiery celebrations began with a strong symbolic emphasis - respect for women , the memory of ancestors and fidelity to the city's cultural identity . Alicante is once again on fire with art, fashion and fiesta.