Finland June Festival
In Finland, the summer solstice is celebrated as Juhannus, a celebration that has pagan origins, when it was called Ukon juhla, in honor of the god Ukko. With Christianization, the festival became associated with John the Baptist (Johannes Kastaja), but it maintained many ancestral traditions.
On the night of Juhannus, Finns light large bonfires (kokko) on the shores of lakes and the sea. Birch branches (koivu) are placed at the entrance of houses to welcome visitors. In some regions, it is common to erect the traditional summer maypole, inspired by Swedish culture.
The date is also surrounded by popular rituals linked to love and fertility. Young single women look for signs of their future husband: one tradition is to pick seven different flowers and place them under the pillow to dream of him. In the past, some people would kneel naked in front of a well to see the reflection of their future partner.
Another highlight of the celebration is the “white night”, when the sun barely sets due to the country’s location near the Arctic Circle. Many Finns leave the cities to celebrate in country houses, enjoying the summer heat with saunas, barbecues and parties with friends and family.
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