The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival has been a tradition on the North Coast of Oregon for over forty years. The Festival takes place typically on the 3rd full weekend of June. The festival embodies the rich cultural heritage that was transplanted to the Astoria, Oregon, region by emigrating Scandinavians. In the Pacific Northwest they found the same bounteous seas and forests as in their native lands and the demand for their skills at managing them. [80] New York [ edit ] Similarly, Fairbanks, Alaska, has been taking advantage of the solstice with a late-night baseball game for more than 100 years. The first Midnight Sun Game, held in 1906, began as a bet between two local bars shortly after a building fire gutted downtown Fairbanks, according to Tom Dennis, the general manager of the Alaska Goldpanners baseball team, which has been hosting the game since 1960.

Surströmming is a traditional Swedish dish made from fermented Baltic herring, and it has been a part of the Swedish d Surströmmingiet for centuries. This pungent fish is known for its strong odor and unique taste, and it has become an integral part of midsummer celebrations in Sweden. In 2024 the summer solstice will occur on Thursday 20 June at 21.51 BST (20.51 GMT). What is the summer solstice? The Maypole is a tall pole that is typically painted, wrapped with ribbons, and decorated with flowers. It is raised in an open area – usually a field or garden of some kind – and Swedes dance around it to celebrate the holiday. Feast of Saint John the Baptist, Summer Solstice, St. John's Feast Day, Jāņi, Enyovden, Līþa/ Lithe, Midsommar, Ivan Kupala Day, Juhannus, Mittumaari, Alban Hefin, Gŵyl Ganol yr Haf, Sankthans, Joninės, Jaanipäev, Keskikesä, Kresna noč However, while most people consider the summer solstice to be a day, it is in reality an exact moment in time that falls upon that day. This moment comes when whichever hemisphere you're in is most tilted towards the Sun. Astronomical definition of the solstice

The winter solstice occurs in December in the Northern Hemisphere and marks midwinter: the shortest day and longest night. Find out more about the winter solstice. When is the winter solstice in 2023? In Kaleva, Juhannus is celebrated annually on or near the Summer Solstice by Gathering at the Village Roadside Park. Traditionally Pannukakku (Finnish Oven Baked Pancake) and strawberry shortcake is enjoyed followed by a bonfire or kokko. Kaleva was founded in 1900 by Finnish immigrants. The Astronomical vs. Meteorological Seasons". Archived from the original on 2016-11-14 . Retrieved 2016-11-13. 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. At the ancient monument of Stonehenge, in the English county of Wiltshire, many people gather to observe the sunrise alignment with the stones on the summer solstice.

a b Dahlig, Piotr (2009). Traditional Musical Cultures in Central-Eastern Europe: Ecclesiastical and Folk Transmission. Dahlig. p.68. ISBN 9788389101860. The dangers posed to humans by demons require specific rituals, aimed at identifying witches and putting them to death. A key element of May Day or St John's rituals is the burning of witches or the repelling and burning-out with fire of evil forces, which might deviously conceal themselves among people, for instance in the form of animals. In traditional fisher towns, festivities take place on Saint Peter's Day, Póvoa do Varzim, which became a municipal holiday in the 1960s. Póvoa de Varzim's Saint Peter Festival keeps traditional "Santos Populares" elements, such as the bonfire, street celebrations, and include the rusgas, in which inhabitants of one quarter ( bairro) parade to other neighbourhoods in the evening of June 28. Women are dressed as tricana (women dressed in a traditional costume with a sensual walking style). Each neighbourhood has its own festival and colors for identification. As in Denmark, Sankthansaften is celebrated on June 23 in Norway. [59] The day is also called Jonsok, which means "John's wake", important in Roman Catholic times with pilgrimages to churches and holy springs. For instance, up until 1840, there was a pilgrimage to the Røldal Stave Church in Røldal (southwest Norway) whose crucifix was said to have healing powers. Today, however, Sankthansaften is largely regarded as a secular or even pre-Christian event. The day marks the ancient middle of summer. It has significance for pagans who have always believed that midsummer day holds a special power.However, we won’t notice the days becoming shorter for a while. The shortest day of the year is not until December 22, which is known as the winter solstice.

Saint John's Eve". Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark. 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018 . Retrieved 28 March 2018. In recent years, a number of churches have re-established the tradition of holding a service on Saint John's Eve.In the southern hemisphere the dates of the two solstices are reversed. The winter solstice occurs on the same day in June and the summer solstice the same day in December. Paikallissää Helsinki"[‘Local weather in Helsinki’] (in Finnish). Finnish Meteorological Institute. 2016-06-20 . Retrieved 2016-06-20. An important feature of the midsummer in Finland is the white night and the midnight sun. Because of Finland's location around the Arctic Circle the nights near the midsummer day are short (with twilight even at midnight) or non-existent. This gives a great contrast to the darkness of the winter time. The temperature can vary between 0°C and +30°C, with an average of about 20°C in the South. Estonians celebrate Jaaniõhtu on the eve of the Summer Solstice (June 23) with bonfires. On the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, old fishing boats may be burned in the large pyres set ablaze. On Jaaniõhtu, Estonians all around the country will gather with their families, or at larger events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing, as Estonians have done for centuries. The celebrations that accompany Jaaniõhtu carry on usually through the night, they are the largest and most important of the year, and the traditions are almost identical to Finland (read under Finland) and similar to neighbors Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden (read under Sweden).

In Great Britain from the 13th century, Midsummer was celebrated on Midsummer Eve (St. John's Eve, June 23) and St. Peter's Eve (June 28) with the lighting of bonfires, feasting, and merrymaking. France also rejoices on June 21 for the Fête de la Musique, which became an international celebration over time.The feast of Midsummer Night was held in honor of Áine, an Irish goddess of summer, wealth and sovereignty. [55] Within Christian theology, John the Baptist "was understood to be preparing the way for Jesus", with John 3:30 stating "He must increase, but I must decrease"; this is symbolized in the fact that the sun's height in the sky and length of the day "begins to diminish" after the summer solstice and begins to increase after the winter solstice. [25] [26] By the 6th century AD, several churches were dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and a vigil, Saint John's Eve, was added to the feast day. Christian priests held three Masses in churches for the celebration. [27]