St John's Eve (Midsummer Eve)
June 23 · Level 9 · #253 of 2238
St John's Eve brings midsummer traditions to the evening before the feast of John the Baptist. Across parts of Europe, its Christian name sits alongside older customs involving fire, greenery and the year's short nights.
How it is celebrated: people gather outdoors for bonfires, songs and wreath-making. Latvia calls the evening Līgo, with caraway cheese on the table and celebrations that can last until dawn.
Folklore invites people to search for a magical fern flower that night. Botany has a twist for treasure hunters: ferns reproduce through spores and never flower.