Midsummer 🔥

Midsummer or St. John’s Day, Jaanipäev as it is known in Estonia, is one of the oldest local celebrations. Late June is the perfect time for a holiday in the blooming nature where days extend into nights, with barely any darkness in sight.

For us, Estonians, Midsummer is pretty important. It is the longest day of the year & it has been celebrated for a very long time with different traditions. Most common ones are probably that young lovers wander through the forest looking for a lucky fern flower said to bloom only this night. And that if you find the glowworm, you may expect a great fortune! 🔮 

Midsummer celebrations

On 22nd of June we had a great Midsummer get-together with my Saaremaa friends in Aste. Big thanks to Triin & Madis, who once again invited us to their countryside and took care of all the preparations! 🙌🏻 Everything was well organised with amazing food, nice company, music and of course bonfire! 🔥 What else would you need for perfect night. Am I right? 😉

 

Unfortunately I didn’t make many photos over there, but I will add one short video ✌🏻

The next day we had again little bonfire and gill&chill with my family and relatives at our countryside. We made our own little bonfire and then there was also a bigger bonfire at the harbour. The weather was again just amazing. I don’t remember so nice Midsummer day and evening for a long time.. Usually it is raining at it is cold. But this year we were swimming in the evening and it was nicely hot! 🤩

The moon glows on the river, wind rustles the pines. Long night clear everything – what are they for?

Ueda Akinari