St John's Day (Midsummer) Date in the current year: June 24, 2024

In ancient times, Midsummer was a festival of summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Summer solstice was a special moment of the annual cycle. People believed that on this day evil spirits roamed the Earth freely so they lit huge bonfires to protect themselves from evil.

When Christianity began to spread, many pagan celebrations merged with new Christian holidays. Midsummer transformed into the nativity of John the Baptist, but many pagan traditions were preserved. For example, bonfires are still lit in many countries.

St John's Day is particularly popular in Northern Europe, but it is also very strongly observed in some other parts of Europe as well as in the United States, Canada and some parts of South America.

Each country has its own Midsummer traditions. Celebrations typically include bonfires, parades, dancing, singing. Midsummer celebrations typically begin on St John's Eve and last throughout the night and the entire following day.

St John's Day is a public holiday in three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) as well as in the Canadian province of Quebec because John the Baptist is the patron saint of the French-Canadians.