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In the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, occurs around June 21st. In ancient communities, the regular movements of the celestial objects were observed and celebrated. Midsummer or Litha was a great festival to mark the summer solstice which was thought to be a time of magic. As evil spirits were always close by, people gathered special herbs and flowers for protection. One of those plants was “chase-devil” which we now call St John’s Wort
Midsummer or the Feast of St John is still a popular holiday in many Scandinavian countries. It is a public holiday in Finland, where it is called Juhannus. It is celebrated on the Saturday which falls between the 20th and 26th of June. Huge bonfires are lit. The burning of bonfires at midsummer dates back to pre-Christian times, when they were probably used to ward off evil spirits. Houses are decorated with flowers and branches from birch trees. In Southern Finland and Sweden, tall poles (similar to Maypoles) are put up. In Sweden, huge crosses a (called ‘midsommarstoeng’and made of birch) are also erected. Why is birch traditionally used? Birch trees figure prominently in the folklore of Northern Europe. Birch grows in the far north and high in the mountains. A graceful tree, with slender, white trunks, it was sacred to the Norse god, Thor. Although it was believed that witches’ broomsticks were made of birch, the birch tree was thought to have protective properties and the smoke of birch was considered purifying. Many ancient customs abound. Girls collect seven to nine different wildflowers and put them under their pillows to encourage dreams of future lovers. Boys who wish to do the same should use copper coins! Some people believed that on Midsummer’s Day, ferns would flower. Because they could be bewitched, cows were kept inside over Midsummer’s Eve. Those of us familiar with Shakespeare will recall the tricks that occur in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. This classic farce perfectly illustrates the superstitions and beliefs that surrounded Midsummer. Relevant Links: The Beheading of St John the Baptist
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The copyright of the article Midsummer, Litha or St John's Eve in Modern Customs is owned by . Permission to republish Midsummer, Litha or St John's Eve in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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