Saint John's Eve

Common card · No. 300663

Saint John's Eve, starting at sunset on 23 June, is the eve of the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. It is one of only two feast days marking a saint's earthly birth (the other being the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 September); all other saint's days mark their deaths (dies natalis, their "birth" into Heaven), or some other important event. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26–37, 56–57) states that John was born six months before Jesus; thus, the feast of John the Baptist's birth was fixed on 24 June, six months before Christmas. In the Roman calendar, 24 June was the date of the summer solstice, and Saint John's Eve is closely associated with Midsummer festivities in Europe. Traditions are similar to those of May Day, and include bonfires (Saint John's fires), feasting, processions, church services, and gathering wild plants.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Auteur inconnu (1893), Public domain