Jun 24, 2011
Happy June 24th!!
Happy Saint Jean Baptiste Day! I know that Robert & Michele will be flying their flag, the Quebec one that is. Today is a National Holiday in Quebec. The celebration of June 24th was brought to ‘New France’ (now Quebec ) by the first French colonists with the first celebrations taking place around 1638. It is still the tradition to light great fires on the 24th of June. Je vous souhaite une celebration heureuse mes amis Francais.
In Latvia, June 24th known as Midsummer is called Jani (Janis being Latvian for John { Jean in French }. It is also a National Holiday that is celebrated on a large scale by almost everyone in Latvia as well a those of Latvian origin abroad. My dear friend Ena in Edmonton usually hosts a huge celebration for all the Latvians in the area. Not only do Latvians keep their bonfire burning all night, they jump over it, something to do warding off evil spirits. I heard another story from another good friend who’s guy is Latvian. His mother, Elsa, says that at midnight all Latvian girls & guys are encouraged to go out into the woods away from the fire to search for a rare flower that only blooms at that time and any other ‘activities’ that happen in the dark woods are okay on this special night. Maybe I should go find myself a handsome lad to go into the woods with! Elsa is 88 and still giggles talking about going into the woods at midnight on this special day.
In Sweden the day is celebrated by raising and dancing around a maypole listening to traditional music. Inger will we see a crown of wildflowers on your head today?
What about you Ken? Did you ever celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge?
To my Polish friends Hanna & Bobby, may you enjoy your Noc Swietojanska (Saint John’s Night). Traditionally in Poland the midsummer day celebration begins at 8:00PM and goes till sunrise. The main theme here is the throwing of flower wreaths into the Baltic Sea, lakes or rivers.
I’m sure that I have other European friends who are celebrating today but I don’t know that you do celebrate June 24th, so to all mentioned here and to those of you out in blogger land, ENJOY!!
Oh I almost forgot, our Vancouver friend Hugh, our very special German friend, where the day of sun solstice is called Sommer-Sonnenwende!
I learnt a good deal while researching this post. All these celebrations are pre-Christian in origin and basically a pagan holiday however in Christianity it is associated with the birth of John the Baptist which is observed on the same day, June 24th. There is much more I could say but enough for now, if you don’t normally celebrate June 24th perhaps you should. Surely somewhere in your past there is a European. If not, well June 24th is reason enough to create an annual holiday in your life. Happy June 24th everyone.
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Thanks for the interesting history lesson. Sounds like a great day to celebrate.
Robert…I am saddened & sorry that you don’t feel comfortable enough to fly the Quebec flag here in the park.
Ken…great information. Stonehenge still has stories to share even today!
Ena….I hope that you managed to stay awake all night. Thanks for sharing all the traditions. So did you go searching for the fern in the forest??
Trinidad & George….great history but also very fun!!
that very nice right up on the history of st-jean bapthise day in quebec
but you ican’t place my flag up i will get shot……
robert
My maiden name is Salamanca, and so I always say that Salamanca, Spain is my connection to Europe. I think any holiday where you get to go out into the woods at midnight with a fine gentleman is very much worth celebrating 🙂 I like to learn about all history, thanks for sharing and Happy June 24th!
Actually the action at Stonehenge takes place on the longest day of the year or June21. Hordes of hippies congregate (camp out) at the site and wait for the sun to rise and then set on that day. In view of the aroma of hemp it is best to stay upwind! Ancient and mythical Gods are worshipped! The local cops are tolerant but some bodies always seem to end up in the local cells only to be released in the morning when they become more ‘normal’ again.
I recently saw a documentary on Stonehenge on Discovery Ch detailing the recent excavations there. They have found some brand new ‘arrangments’ of rock and stone leading away from the great circle westwards toward the river. At the point closest to the river, they found (depth radar) and excavated an old set of large post holes. They are oriented in such a way as to speculate that they may even pre-date Stonehenge. Time anaysis by labs indicate they may be over 3,500 years old. Interesting stuff, what!
KenB
It is indeed a big Latvian celebration, but we start celebrating on the 23rd, the eve of St John’s Day. House and garden should be in tip-top shape beforehand, otherwise your weedy garden and lazy cows could be mocked in song. Wreath-making, good food & drink, singing, dancing, bonfires, general merriment. Leaping over the fire and burning last year’s Midsummer wreaths are said to bring luck and prosperity in the coming year. Folksongs say that whoever sleeps that night will sleep all summer, so naturally everyone tries to stay up until sunrise, which isn’t too difficult at this time of year. Elsa’s recollections are accurate, as it’s also folk-tradition to go searching in the forest for a flowering fern.
Priecigus Janus!