Midsummer Day
Long ago, people in Europe worshipped the sun. So the return of summer was a time of great rejoicing. The people lit bonfires – symbols of the sun – and celebrated all night and into the next day.
This time was known as Midsummer Eve (June 23) and Midsummer Day (June 24). This, of course, is not midsummer. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer begins on June 20, 21, or 22, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
Years ago, the early Christian Church chose Midsummer Day as the birth date of John the Baptist, who is a great Christian saint.
People in many Christian countries have celebrated St. John’s Day for hundreds of years. These celebrations are a curious mixture of old and new customs. There are bonfires, but these are now called St. John’s Fire. And, of course, there is a great deal of merrymaking.
Picture Credit : Google
