Friday, June 23, 2006

Midsummer Eve

Today according to Australian Eastern Standard Time when this item was posted

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Midsummer Eve (St John's Eve): bonfires and a magickal herb

Saint John's Eve is the night before the Feast Day of St John the Baptist, and in Europe, from pre-Christian times, Summer Solstice festivities and spiritual practices have been a part of this day. Also called Midsummer Eve, June 23 is a time rich in folklore.

On this night in olde Britain, people would go into the woods and bring back branches to their homes, celebrating the eve of the birth of John the Baptist (the only Christian saint whose birth date is a feast, as well as the day of his death – August 29). Fairies speak in human tongues on this night; the flower of happiness blooms ...

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2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thought readers might be interested in an especially good page on St. John's Eve: http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost3.html (actually, the entire "Seasonal Customs" of that site is very interesting: http://www.fisheaters.com/customs.html)

4:54 PM  
Blogger Pip Wilson said...

Yes indeed. Thank you. That site is well worth a visit.

4:57 PM  

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