Jaanipäev
As many of you know, this weekend is the midsummer holiday. Basically it’s the summer solstice holiday, but in Estonia it has several layers. The first layer is Victory Day (Võidupüha), the celebration of the victory of Estonia over the Germans in the Battle of Vonnu on June 23, 1919. The second layer is Midsummer Eve (Jaaniõhtu), a pagan festival, which begins on the night of the 23rd.
According to one website:
Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires. “It was the night of fire festivals and of love magic, of love oracles and divination. It had to do with lovers and predictions, when pairs of lovers would jump through the luck-bringing flames…” It was believed that the crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump. Through the fire’s power, “…maidens would find out about their future husband, and spirits and demons were banished.” Another function of bonfires was to generate sympathetic magic: giving a boost to the sun’s energy so that it would remain potent throughout the rest of the growing season and guarantee a plentiful harvest.
Today, Estonians celebrate Midsummer Eve and Midsummer (Jaanik) in a similar manner to ancient Estonians. They travel to the country, light bonfires, stay up all night drinking, singing, dancing, and jumping over the bonfires. Hey, if it ain’t broke…
Estonia was one of the last of the northern countries to be converted to Christianity, and even then many people continued to practice pagan rituals. Today, Estonia has no official religion, with about 60% of the population claiming a religious affiliation. Mixed in with the Midsummer holiday is St. John’s Day (Jaanipäev). This is the Christian holiday celebrating the birth of St. John the Baptist. This is a minor Christian holiday, and the name was basically just applied to a pagan holiday to “Christianize” it.
In 2005 we spent Jaanipäev in Haapsalu, but this year we’re heading east to the Avinurme pütilaat. Happy Jaanipäev, everyone!
Hi Rachel, have a happy jaanipäev, too! We’ll be in Raplamaa, near Lelle. It’s going to be my first proper jaanipäev in ages, as I’ve been in Edinburgh or elsewhere for the previous seven ones..
Comment by Pille — 22 June 2007 @ 16:09
It looks like it’s an amazing time over there. Maybe I should go and see if for myself one day.
As you mention in your post we do something similar on or around 21st June in France. We light huge elaborate bondfires and dance and sing and well yes, drink too!
Comment by Céline — 25 June 2007 @ 17:20
Just to clarify on what I wrote earlier: we celebrate something similar because it is St-John or Saint-Jean on the 21st June, a Christian celebration. Not that you mentioned anything about France. Sorry for the confusion, I’m not awake yet!
Comment by Céline — 25 June 2007 @ 17:31
Thanks for your comment, Pille! So, how was your first Jaanipäev in seven years? This was only my second ever, and we ended up at a bonfire in Suure-Jaani. And I drank too much.
We’re heading to Italy next week for our summer holiday. Have you been? Any food suggestions? I’m researching the culinary specialties of the various regions we’ll be in, to remind us to try them out.
Comment by rachel — 28 June 2007 @ 12:22
Thanks for that clarification, Céline. I was confused for a moment.
It is a great experience. It was only my second Jaanipäev, but it was even better than the first time. The bonfire was next to a lake and the stage (with a country-music duo and the dancing crowd) was facing another direction. So we could just sit around and bask in the warmth of the bonfire. It’s good to go with an Estonian or two, though, to get the real cultural experience. Many people go home and continue drinking, which is when the real fun starts. Also, it was beautiful to be driving through the countryside on our way to the big, public bonfire and see private bonfires burning every few hundred meters.
I would suggest coming to Jaanipäev in 2009 so that you can also attend the song festival that takes place every five years. A huge segment of Estonia’s population attends and everyone participates. I missed the last one, but I’ll be sure to be at the one in 2009 (even if I’m no longer living in Estonia by then). This weekend I’m attending the 10th Youth Song and Dance Festival, organized by the same people and also very popular. http://www.laulupidu.ee/eng.php
P.S. Checked out your myspace page and see we have a few things in common (animal and environmental protection, particularly). When I lived in Florida I co-founded a cat rescue organization. I’m also going to write something soon-ish on illumineerima about green living in Estonia. And another post about being a vegetarian here. It’s probably similar to being a vegetarian during the 60s in Western countries.
Comment by rachel — 28 June 2007 @ 13:20