7/28/2019 St John's Day (Estonia)

1/3

St John's Day (Estonia) 1

St John's Day (Estonia)

St John's Eve (Jaanihtu, also Jaanilaupev) and St John's Day (Jaanipev) are the most important days in the

Estonian calendar, apart from Christmas. The short summer seasons with long days and brief nights hold special

significance for the people of Estonia. Jaanipev is celebrated in the night between June 23 and 24, a few days after

the summer solstice, when night seems to be non-existent.

History of St. Johns Day

Jaanipev was celebrated long before the arrival of Christianity in Estonia, although the day was given its name by

the crusaders. The arrival of Christianity, however, did not end pagan beliefs and fertility rituals surrounding this

holiday. In 1578, with some disgust, Balthasar Russow wrote in his Livonian Chronicle about Estonians who placed

more importance on the festival than going to church. He complained about those who went to church, but did not

enter, and instead spent their time lighting bonfires, drinking, dancing, singing and following pagan rituals.

For Estonians, Jaanipev celebrations were merged with the celebration of Vidupha (Victory Day) during the War

of Independence when Estonian forces defeated the German troops on 23 June 1919. After this battle against

Estonia's traditional oppressors, Jaanihtu and the lighting of the traditional bonfires became linked with the ideals of

independence and freedom.

Significance

Jaanipev marks a change in the farming year, specifically the break between the completion of spring sowing and

the hard work of summer hay-making.

On Jaanihtu, 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.

Understandably, some of the rituals of Jaanipev have very strong folkloric roots. The best-known Jaanik, or

midsummer, ritual is the lighting of the bonfire and then jumping over it. This is seen as a way of guaranteeing

prosperity and avoiding bad luck. Likewise, to not light the fire is to invite the destruction of your house by fire. The

fire also frightened away mischievous spirits who avoided it at all costs, thus ensuring a good harvest. So, the bigger

the fire, the further the mischievous spirits stayed away.

Midsummer's eve is important for lovers. Among Estonian fairy tales and literature there is the tale of two lovers,

Koit (dawn) and Hmarik (dusk). These two lovers see each other only once a year and exchange the briefest of

kisses on the shortest night of the year. Earth-bound lovers go into the forest looking for the flower of the fern which

is said to bloom only on that night.[1]

Also on this night, single people can follow a detailed set of instructions

involving different flowers to see whom they are going to marry.

Former President Lennart Meri has provided another perspective on Jaanipev in his workHbevalge (Silverwhite,

1976). Meri suggests that the Jaanipev traditions re-enact the fall of the Kaali meteorite in Saaremaa. The

meteorite's fall is also said to be the inspiration for Nordic and Baltic mythological stories about the sun falling onto

the earth. This idea suggests that the present day bonfires and celebrations actually symbolise Estonia s connection

with its ancient past.

The tradition before the Soviet occupation, which has now been restored, was for a fire to be lit by the Estonian

President on the morning ofVidupha (June 23). From this fire, the flame of independence was carried across the

country to light the many bonfires.

During the transition to the re-establishment of Estonia's de facto independence, Jaanipev became an unofficial

holiday, with many work places closing down. It once again became an official national holiday in 1992.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saaremaahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaali_craterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lennart_Merihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fern_flowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Estonian_War_of_Independencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Estonian_War_of_Independencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonfirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Balthasar_Russowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fertility_ritehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paganismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northern_Crusadeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Estonia

7/28/2019 St John's Day (Estonia)

2/3

St John's Day (Estonia) 2

References

[1][1] Ferns are not seed-bearing plants and do not flower.

7/28/2019 St John's Day (Estonia)

3/3

Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and ContributorsSt John's Day (Estonia) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=559753721 Contributors: Aronoel, AvicAWB, Bengt a, Davidjorda@gmail.com, Dkreisst, Gert7, Ital Congo, Jaan,

Jgb2, Jimpaz, Joseph Solis in Australia, Kku, Korinth111, Ligulem, Lilac Soul, Mack2, Nimetapoeg, Philly jawn, QwertyUSA, Suwa, Switchercat, TarisWerewolf, Wetman, Zababa, Zalktis, 13

anonymous edits

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/