Midsummer Eve and the following day, the summer solstice, are times of great magic, mystery and celebration throughout the world. Before the conversion to Christianity, many countries would celebrate Midsummer Eve and its role in the disappearance of the sun from our skies. In order to counter this pagan celebration it was renamed the nativity of John the Baptist and celebrated with solemnity. However Midsummer Eve is still celebrated Europe wide by many people. 

In parts of England it is believed that Midsummer Eve was celebrated long before recorded history began. Numerous stone circles and Neolithic standing stones litter its landscape and a great many of these align with the sun during the summer solstice. One of Britain’s most famous summer celebrations involves druids welcoming in the first solstice sun after spending Midsummer Eve at Stonehenge. It is an ancient belief that Midsummer Eve is a night where evil spirits come abroad to scare the sun away. To counter and hopefully scare away the spirits huge bonfires would be lit. 

In Sweden Midsummer Eve is celebrated on the nearest Friday to the actual date. It is seen as a time for big social gatherings where huge maypoles are erected for children to dance around. Like many places around Europe midsummer eve was seen as a magical time when the future could easily be told. Young women would eat a special salted porridge that was said to give them prophetic dreams of future husbands or they would keep watch at holy wells, waiting for a reflection of their future husband to show up in the water. 

Latvia has a strong tradition of celebrating Midsummer Eve. Traditionally couples would go into the forests and hunt for a mystical fern flower which was said to flower only at midsummer. Any couple finding this flower would be guaranteed love and happiness. In honour of this tradition many Latvians will gather wild flowers and plants and decorate themselves, pets and homes. Singing, dancing and drinking also feature heavily making this a real time of celebration.

Germany also has a rich tradition of celebrating this time. Along with other European countries, huge bonfires are built and lit to frighten away evil spirits with people dancing around them. Occasionally a practise called Hanslverbrennen is followed where small straw figures are thrown into the bonfire. In these areas it would not be surprising to see Johanniskrone or the woven green wreath nailed up in a public space for people to dance around. 

There are many traditions still alive today around Europe when it comes to Midsummer Eve. Most of these practises involve dancing, singing and drinking.  That a lot of countries still light the bonfires to scare away the evil spirits who are chasing the sun away, speaks volumes for our shared pagan heritage and its pull on us.