Jaanipäev
Estonian summer holiday / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jaanipäev or leedopäev ('Jaan's Day') is the longest celebrated public holiday and one of the most important summer holidays in the Estonian folk calendar. It corresponds to the English Midsummer Day.
Jaanipäev | |
---|---|
Also called | Leedopäev, Jaanipäev, Midsummer Day, |
Observed by | Estonia |
Begins | June 23 |
Ends | June 24 |
Date | June 24 |
Next time | 24 June 2024 (2024-06-24) |
Frequency | Annual |
On jaaniõhtu (the night of jaanilaupäev, which is the night before jaanipäev) Estonians will gather with their families or at larger events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing, drinking and eating, and lighting the bonfires, as has been the tradition for centuries. Jaanipäev is arguably the most important holiday, more important than Christmas in the yearly calendar for Estonians.[1]
As Estonian National Open Air Museum describes it, "this is a time when nature is full of power and thousands of bonfires are set on fire throughout the country to celebrate the beginning of summer and ensure good luck".[2]