Hendricks Gin Midsummer Solstice Limited Edition Gin, 70 cl

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a b c d "The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: The Midsummer Nativity". The Institute for Christian Formation. 2017 . Retrieved 26 March 2018. The evening is marked with bonfires throughout the country, in both the large cities and small towns. Typically, there are speeches held at the the lighting of the bonfire, then songs. The most traditional is “Vi Elsker Vort Land” (We Love Our Country), written in 1885 by Holger Drachmann. According to Eastern Orthodox tradition the eve of the day of the Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrated with festivals in many towns and villages, both in the mainland and in the Greek isles. Traditionally the midsummer's celebration is called Klidonas ( Κλήδονας) meaning sign or oracle, and was considered a time when unmarried girls would discover their potential mates through a ritual. It is also customary to this day to burn the Mayday wreaths that are used to decorate the doors of the houses for the previous two months, in large communal bonfires, accompanied by music, dancing and jumping over the flames. It takes place on May 30 and May 31. [52] Hungary [ edit ] In 1885, Holger Drachmann wrote a midsommervise (Midsummer hymn) called "Vi elsker vort land..." ("We Love Our Country") with a melody composed by P.E. Lange-Müller that is sung at most bonfires on this evening.

Since 1934, June 23 is also national Victory Day of Estonia and both 23rd and 24th are holidays and flag flying days. The Estonian flag is not lowered in the night between these two days. Midsummer was a national holiday until 1770, but it is still widely celebrated throughout the Scandinavian and Nordic countries, with Sweden’s celebrations being the most intense. Since 1955, the holiday has always been on a Saturday (between June 20 and June 26). Earlier it was always on June 24. Many of the celebrations of midsummer take place on Friday, midsummer eve, when many workplaces are closed and shops may close their doors at noon. Many Midsummer folk customs of the medieval and early modern period in Europe happened on these slightly later dates, but for the past two centuries, modern Pagans have observed Midsummer as it was in ancient times, on the astronomical longest day of the year. 2. Ancient Britons danced around stones...sometimes to raise the devil Whether you plan to make the most of your annual leave or simply want to put a few more evening plans in the diary, there’ is plenty to do to make the most of the long summer days.Midsummer's Day occurs annually on 24 June and is one of the four Quarter Days in the UK Legal Calendar. The other Quarter Days are Lady Day (25 March), Michaelmas (29 September) and Christmas Day (25 December). Why isn’t the Summer Solstice in the middle of summer? Bonfires have been a way to celebrate Midsummer since the Viking age, when they were lit to ward off evil spirits for the coming harvest season. a b c "Midsummer". Government of Sweden. 10 January 2018 . Retrieved 25 March 2018. In Sweden, they were mainly found in the southern part of the country. Young people also liked to visit holy springs, where they drank the healing water and amused themselves with games and dancing. These visits were a reminder of how John the Baptist baptised Christ in the River Jordan. According to some ancient Greek calendars, the summer solstice marked the start of the New Year. The summer solstice also marked the one-month countdown to the opening of the Olympic games. In Wales it is called Gŵyl Ifan, or Gŵyl Ifan Ganol Haf (St John's of Midsummer) to distinguish it from Gŵyl Ifan Ganol Gaeaf (St John's of Midwinter, the feast of John the Evangelist). Great agricultural fairs used to be held at this time, along with merriment and dancing. A bonfire was also kept this night. With the advent of non-conformist beliefs on the Welsh socio-political culture, this (among so many other similar festivals) suffered greatly, and its observance finally died out in south-east Wales by the end of the 19th century. However, since 1977, a folk-dance revival started in Cardiff, and is held now annually on this feast day [74] United States [ edit ] Solstice fire in Montana

While some have theorized that Stonehenge was the location of prehistoric summer solstice rituals, there’s little archaeological evidence that it was used this way. Modern-day Solstice Celebrations

Sweden’s Midsummer (‘Midsommar’ in Swedish) is the quintessential summer celebration and something that people look forward to throughout the year, especially during the long, dark Scandinavian winters. Here’s all you need to know about the second most important holiday of the year (after Christmas), which is always celebrated close to the summer solstice.

British Library Harleian Mss 2345, edited by J. Kemble, The Saxons in England, vol. I:361, quoted in George C. Homans, English Villagers of the Thirteenth Century, 2nd ed. 1991. pp.369-370.

However, the axis of rotation of the Earth is not lined up with the axis of motion around the Sun. Instead, it is tilted slightly at 23.44°. The Astronomical vs. Meteorological Seasons". Archived from the original on 2016-11-14 . Retrieved 2016-11-13.Bonfires also were associated with magic. It was believed that bonfires could help banish demons and evil spirits and lead maidens to their future husbands. Magic was thought to be strongest during the summer solstice. Forsythe, Gary (2012). Time in Roman Religion: One Thousand Years of Religious History. Routledge. pp.123, 182. Varro places the equinoxes and solstices at the midpoints of the seasons ... His dating for the beginnings of the four seasons are as follows: February 7 for spring, May 9 for summer, August 11 for autumn, and November 10 for winter. Many Native American tribes took part in solstice rituals, some of which are still practiced today. The Sioux, for instance, performed a ceremonial sun dance around a tree while wearing symbolic colors. a b c d e f g Hutton, Ronald (1996). The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford University Press. pp. 312–313. ISBN 9780198205708.