MIDSUMMER'S DAY
The material was prepared by Simonas,Alfredas,Marius & Jonas
MIDSUMMER'S DAY 24th June
From ancient times people marked the time of the return of the sun, the shortest and longest night. In olden times it was called the Feast of the DEWS, [ a.k.a. RASOS ]. When Christianity was established in Lithuania, the name was changed to Feast of St. John, according to agrarian folk calendar, the start of haying.
( http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/eka/customs/john.html)
Photo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Ivankupala.jpg
( http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/eka/customs/john.html)
Photo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Ivankupala.jpg
Midsummer is the period centered on the summer solstice. Summer solstice is the time when the day is longest in the northern hemisphere and shortest in the southern hemisphere.
( http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/st-johns-day-world/ )
Photo:
http://www.trakai-visit.lt/app/webroot/uploads/userfiles/images/Renginiai/Miesto%20svente/rudiskiu%20merginos%202009%20-%20Copy.jpg
( http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/st-johns-day-world/ )
Photo:
http://www.trakai-visit.lt/app/webroot/uploads/userfiles/images/Renginiai/Miesto%20svente/rudiskiu%20merginos%202009%20-%20Copy.jpg
The traditions include singing songs and dancing until the sun sets, telling tales, searching to find the magic fern blossom at midnight, jumping over bonfires, greeting the rising midsummer sun and washing the face with a morning dew, young girls float flower wreaths on the water of river or lake. These are customs brought from pagan culture and beliefs. The latter Christian tradition is based on the reverence of Saint John the Baptist. Lithuanians with the names Jonas, Jonė, Janina receive many greetings from their family, relatives and friends.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Jonas'_Festival )
Photo
http://benedictus.mantoanpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/st-johns-3.jpg
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Jonas'_Festival )
Photo
http://benedictus.mantoanpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/st-johns-3.jpg
Midsummer's day in Klaipeda, Lithuania
MAGIC POWERS
Special importance is attached to water: hexes bathing in lakes and rivers on this night enchant the water and it can make you look younger, help get married sooner, or cure of long-standing illnesses.
A bouquet of herbs collected on the Joninės night also has magic powers. Herbs are used for making wreaths and telling fortune.
Another important characteristic of the shortest night of the year is to look for a blossom of a fern, although everybody knows that the fern does not blossom at all. People used to believe that one has to be strong-willed, resolute, mature and unselfish to succeed in finding a fern blossom.
( http://lietuva.lt/en/lifestyle/traditions )
Photo http://www.main.lt/wiki/index.php?title=Jonin%C4%97s
A bouquet of herbs collected on the Joninės night also has magic powers. Herbs are used for making wreaths and telling fortune.
Another important characteristic of the shortest night of the year is to look for a blossom of a fern, although everybody knows that the fern does not blossom at all. People used to believe that one has to be strong-willed, resolute, mature and unselfish to succeed in finding a fern blossom.
( http://lietuva.lt/en/lifestyle/traditions )
Photo http://www.main.lt/wiki/index.php?title=Jonin%C4%97s