Midsummer: The Longest Day

Midsummer celebrates the longest day of the year.

Midsummer is a European festival near the summer solstice.

The summer solstice falls on June 20, 21, or 22.

Europe traditionally celebrates midsummer on June 23 or 24.

Bonfires and maypole dancing are common midsummer activities.

Romans celebrated midsummer as the festival of goddess Fortuna.

The Christian Church made June 24 St John the Baptist's Day.

Saint John's fires symbolize light and repel witches and spirits.

In Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Quebec, June 24 is a public holiday.

Albania celebrates midsummer with bonfires and jumping over fires.

Bulgarians celebrate Enyovden with fire dancing on smoldering embers.

Neopagans call midsummer Litha and celebrate the solstice.

Midsummer marks summer's height, then daylight begins to shrink.