Terra Taco

Sankthans aften

June 23rd, 2006

Sankthansaften is widely celebrated in Norway on the longest day of the year (midsummer’s eve), the day that the sun turns. People gather around large bonfires and barbecues are held all over the country. These fires date back to pagan days, and some superstitions surrounding them state that the bonfires will protect people from evil spirits and witches. I read somewhere that during the occupation it actually freaked out the Germans who where not familiar with this custom and thought that the bonfires where a signal to the British and that an attack was imminent.

Sankthans was named after John the Baptist (Saint Johannes). Older people call it Jonsok, which means Johannes wake. Those names are a result of the church trying to transform a pagan custom into a Christian one. The birthday of John the Baptist is believed to fall on the longest day of the year (June 24th). Today in Norway, the celebration is mainly a secular one.

Entry Filed under: Cecilie, Landscape, Photos, Sean