Midsummer
As Midsummer celebrations are called the summer solstice. In the Nordic countries and the Baltic states, where the nights at this season are unlikely to dark ( "White Nights " ), the customs are particularly lively.
The summer solstice took place of our era on June 24 in the Julian calendar in the first centuries. On this date was ( and is ) the Solemnity of John the Baptist committed to the allied themselves parts of the pre-Christian solstice traditions.
A similar tradition is found in Brazil, dating back to the Portuguese São João between June 12 (St. Anton ) and 29 June (St. Peter ). Due to the proximity to the tropics of the change of seasons is there named and celebrated similar to the northern hemisphere.
- 4.1 traditions
- 4.2 Juhannus today
- 4.3 Day of the Finnish Flag
Sweden: Midsummer
Midsummer in Sweden after Christmas is the second biggest festival of the year and most Swedes celebrate it with relatives, friends and neighbors. According to the law of 1953 Midsummer is always celebrated on the Saturday, which lies between the 20th and 26th June. The previous Friday is Midsommarafton ( Midsummer Eve ) called and the Saturday midsommardag ( Midsummer Day ). Although Friday is not an official holiday, most shops are closed and the inhabitants of large cities pilgrimage to the festivities on the land. At Midsummer, the Swedish flag is often - against the recommendation, they seek to sunset or later than 20:30 clock - hoisted overnight.
In contrast to the other countries in the region where the solid by the church was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the Swedish Midsummer Festival has experienced no Christian reshaping.
Majstång
On Midsummer Eve a decorated tree trunk is erected, the midsummer pole ( midsommarstång ) or Maypole ( majstång ) is called. Maj has nothing to do with the month of May, but dates back to the ancient verb maja ( " decorate with flowers "). The rod looks in the different regions of the country each slightly different, individual locations often have their own tradition. The stem is decorated with leaves and flowers and erect, then danced around him in a circle, with different game dances are common. One of these dance songs is Sma grodorna: it is about a frog and imitating his movements while dancing.
For hard pulling up fine at that girls and women have usually white or flowery dresses; many contribute to this special occasion even their costumes. Some wreaths of flowers and birch branches and put them on yourself or your children.
The custom is similar in many respects to the German maypole.
Food and Drink
Midsummer to eat the first young potatoes. They are served with herring, sour cream, chives, crisp bread and cheese. Many take while eating one or more nubbe called brandy glasses to him and sing a drinking song as the below, which is about the brandy to drink either on ex or get none at all. But it will also drank oil (beer) to do so. For dessert, fresh Swedish strawberries with cream.
Magical nature
Previously it was believed that nature is magical in the midsummer night ( the night between Friday and Saturday). Elves danced and trolls were behind the trees. In addition, it was said that the morning dew could heal sick animals and humans. Therefore we collected some dew in a bottle. This was also used for baking; the bread and rolls them were large and tasty, it was believed. The same is also still practiced in Lithafest, which has no relation to Sweden.
Seven Flower
Unmarried girls to pick at night seven varieties of wild flowers of seven different fields, which they then put under her pillow. Then they should according to the legend of the dream, she will marry someday. But you must be absolutely still while picking and the next day she must not tell anyone, from whom they have been dreaming, otherwise the dream will not come true.
Denmark and Norway: Sankt Hans
The Danes and Norwegians celebrate on the eve of St. John 's Day on June 23 with a large fire the Sankt Hans celebration or even the Sankt Hans evening. When Danish Sankt Hans also a straw witch is burned in the fire. This custom came at the end of the 19th century from Germany. The fire is symbolic Keep the evil forces. Before the burning of the fire often a locally well-known politician or artist made a brief speech. An essential part of the festival are folk songs. So is sung after the connection of fire in Denmark of all Holger Drachmanns Midsommervise ( Midsummer way ).
Besides the large Johannifeuern beyond torch or lantern processions are carried out in many places. A maypole as the Swedish counterpart is not usual. However, in May or at Whitsuntide Maypoles ( majstang or majtræ ) should be placed in some parts of the country as in Himmerlands and on some South Funen islands. In some Danish parts of the country, a greater tree is decorated as midsummer tree.
Estonia: Jaanipäev
The Midsummer Festival of Estonians ( Jaanipäev ) is June 24; but is celebrated from the evening of June 23 ( Jaanilaupäev ) to up into the early morning of the next day. It is of its importance ago before Christmas is the biggest celebration in the country, which - if possible - is spent in the countryside, which is why the cities are almost deserted at this time. For a traditional Midsummer necessarily belongs in Estonia a fireplace that does not go out during the whole night. On the islands disused boats are burned in the old tradition often.
Finland: Juhannus
The Finns celebrate Juhannus always on Saturday between June 20 and June 26 of each year. Despite the Christian sounding name both the origins and the traditions are still valid today handed down long. Juhannus was formerly always celebrated on June 24 of a year, since 1955, is considered today the applied control by which the festival always falls on the weekend.
Just as Jaanipäev in Estonia Juhannus in Finland is the festival of Midsummer, and after Christmas the most important holiday in the country.
Traditions
Juhannus has its origins in ancient traditions. The original name of the feast were Vakkajuhla (basket hard ) and Ukon Juhla ( Feast of Ukko ). It in honor of the deity Ukko (god of the weather, the harvest and thunder ) was celebrated with great meetings to shore places, with packed lunch and specially brewed for the occasion beer was consumed. In honor of Ukko was launched by the so-called Ukon Malja.
Clamor and drink were early to the Juhannus celebrations. They believed that this will bring good luck and bad spirits markets. According to an old belief, the harvest was better, the more you drank at Juhannus.
The festival is, inter alia, celebrated with late-night concerts and dance events. There are Juhannusfeuer (Finnish juhannuskokko ) lit huge fires in visible places, especially on beaches and clearings. The house is decorated with raised before the entrance birch twigs ( juhannuskoivut ) and flowers. Åland and in the territories of Finland Sweden a midsommarstång is prepared according to the Swedish tradition.
Juhannus is a popular date for weddings.
For many Finns Juhannus is firmly connected with the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Die each year in the midsummer night up to 20 people for most alcohol-related accidents in road and water transport.
Juhannus today
The day is traditionally spent in the countryside, the cities are on the eve deserted. Juhannus is also considered the busiest day on the otherwise rarely clogged by the sparsely populated roads in the south of the country. The public long-distance transport is very limited at midsummer, the public transport in many places completely stopped. All shops are closed, even most petrol stations and kiosks have closed from the afternoon of Juhannusaatto ( the eve of Midsummer tags).
In Helsinki every year there is a great midsummer festival according to old traditions on the Museum Island Seurasaari.
In recent years, the large outdoor festivals to enjoy Midsummer gaining in popularity. The biggest festival is now Raumanmeren juhannus in Rauma, which a few years ago replaced the held first in Virrat and later in Vaasa Rantarock in this meaning. In addition, in Kauhava a Lentäjien juhannus called Midsummer Festival of aviation fans find ( with flight demonstrations and an attractive supporting program ), the Nummirock Festival in Kauhajoki and Himos Festival in Jämsä instead.
Day of the Finnish Flag
The midsummer day marks the day of the Finnish flag, the only day in the year on which the Finnish flag must also remain hoisted at night.
Latvia: Jāņi
In Latvia Jāņi is celebrated as the most popular holiday from 23rd to 24th of June. Both days are public holidays in Latvia.
Latvian mythology speaks all grasses and flowers, which are collected on the day before Midsummer to special healing powers for humans and animals. They are woven into wreaths and bouquets tied. Traditionally, women adorn themselves with garlands of flowers, while the men wear wreaths of oak leaves. Both door and gate, as well as exquisite rooms and stables, but also the animals with these locust grasses ( Latvian: Janu Zales ) decorated. The wreaths mimic the shape of an egg as the " origin of life " after. They should therefore reflect the fertility of nature.
For John's hard establishes the landlady caraway cheese. The host is dedicated to brewing beer. Meanwhile, this procedure is frequently replaced by the " Buy beer ". By presenting of cheese and beer, by the singing and dancing are all " Johannes children " (in Latvian: Janu Berns ) the blessings of nature and its gods bestowed, while they themselves are guests at the wedding from heaven father Dievs with Mother Earth Mara.
A special tradition form the LIGO songs - Daina for Midsummer with a characteristic chorus - Ligo Ligo. According to ancient traditions, this word was from God Līgo Jānis ( German: Johannes ) to Earth to bless the fields and bring a rich harvest.
In several thousand songs the column ( sun), the Jānis (often also called the Son of God ), and the mate and Janu Janu Tevs ( " Johannes Mother " and " Father John ," the hosts of each homestead ) sung. The Jāņa Berni ( " John Child ", the festive procession ) draw with wreaths and grasses adorned singing from court to court, require singing in the traditional midsummer meal (cheese and beer) and wish happiness, blessing and fertility.
The Johannesburg Festival culminates in the John fires which are lit before sunset until sunrise and kept going. In the country the Johannes fire is lit on a hill, with a barrel of tar are used on a pole, a getunktes in tar and wrapped with straw cartwheel or special torches. John's fire is considered as purifier and for health and fertility as beneficial. Moreover, it is said to drive all evil from the illuminated by the fire fields, houses, people and animals.
Along the coast the John fires are usually sparked by the beach. Here, take the opportunity to collect stranded combustible material in the course of time or because of natural disasters fallen trees in the " eternal cycle " of "Earth - Water - Fire - Air " return.
Lithuania: Jonines
Midsummer is when John Hard ( Lithuanian: Jonines ) celebrated in Lithuania in the evening and during the night of June 23 to June 24. 24 June is a public holiday in Lithuania. The religious holiday has the traditional " Midsummer " is replaced here at least in the date. Jonines is the most popular national holiday and has received many traditions.
The traditional midsummer festival called Rasos or Kupolės and of course was also held on the summer solstice, in part, is today celebrated on this date. Often the holiday on June 24, is occupied with that name.
Spain: La noche de San Juan
In Spain, living near the coast inhabitants meet in the "Night of St. John " at the beach or in a Rambla. They celebrate with family and friends. Even at lunchtime begin the festivities with bonfires and barbecues. At the stroke of midnight you jump into the water and so welcomes the summer solstice. Especially in the large coastal cities thereby provides a spectacular show when plunging thousands of people at the same time into the water, sing and celebrate. The celebrations usually go on until sunrise.
Poland, Slovakia, Silesia: Sobotka
In Poland the feast is generally referred to as " noc Świętojańska " (Saint John's night) on the feast of St. John the Baptist, 23 / 24th June celebrated. A short name is Sobotka. Similar practices exist in Slovakia, Silesia and Carpathian arc. In eastern Poland ( Podlaskie Voivodeship and ) they call mostly " Kupala or Kupalo " and the " Wianki " wreath in Kraków.