Happy Midsummer Day from Finland
Today we celebrate the nightless night and the longest day of the year. Although actual summer solstice was already few days ago, the celebration day is held today.
Midsummer day (Juhannus, Mittumaari) is the oldest and maybe still most popular of the annual celebrations here. Historically it was the day to celebrate the new harvest by burning the bonfires and also to make some small rituals: young maidens make tricks to find new suitors and fertility. If you are lucky/unlucky, you might see 'will-o'-the-wisp' and find the hidden treasure or, bunch of dead souls.
Nowadays young maidens have maybe better ways to find handsome boyfriends but the bonfires are still very common. Also, since 1316 and crusades Midsummer Day has also been a Christian celebration associated somehow to John the Babtist.
As a sign of the Midsummer, we cut two young birch trees and place them on either side of the front door to welcome visitors and friends.
On Midsummer many people leave cities and spend their holiday on the countryside at their summer cottages with their family and friends. Cities get quiet and almost empty, but in our case it goes the other way: on our home island the population doubles or triples as so many people have their summer cottages here.
Our midsummer includes just being together with some family friends, eat well (we've just got our first new potatoes this year from our garden), sauna, few beers, relax and watch the bonfire on the nearby beach later next night. And, of course, watch Portugal - Brasilia from TV.
