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Jaanipäev
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Jaanipäev
Jaanipäev (literally, 'John's day') or leedopäev (literally, 'fire day') is the longest celebrated public holiday and one of the most important summer holidays in the Estonian folk calendar. It corresponds to English Midsummer Day.
On jaaniõhtu (literally, 'John's evening', the night before jaanipäev), Estonians gather with their families and friends or at larger (often public) events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing, drinking and eating, and lighting 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.
As the Estonian 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".
In traditional Estonian leedopäev (literally, 'fire day'), commonly known as jaanipäev (literally, 'John's day'), is called Midsummer Day in English, juhannuspäivä or ukko by Finnish, Jāņu diena by Latvians, and St John's Day by the Christians. There are several other less known names for jaanipäev in Estonian, some of them are: suvine pööripäev, suvepööripäev, püäripääv, päevakäänak, päiväkäänäk, päiväkäändjäne, päevapesa, pesapäev and suured päevad.
It is said that the traditions of jaanipäev started with the fall of the Kaali meteorite around 4,000 years ago, lighting of bonfires to re-enact the falling of the meteorite when it lit the night said to seem like the sun rose again in the night.
Jaanipäev celebrations were merged with the celebration of võidupüha ('Victory Day') during the War of Independence when Estonian forces defeated the German troops in the Battle of Cēsis (Võnnu) on 23 June 1919. After this battle against Estonia's traditional oppressors, jaaniõhtu and the lighting of the traditional bonfires became linked with the ideals of independence and freedom. Since 1934, June 23 is also national Victory Day of Estonia, and both the 23rd and 24th are holidays and flag days - when the blue-black-white tricolor is raised at sunrise. The Estonian flag is not lowered in the night between these two days.
The tradition before the Soviet occupation was for a bonfire to be lit by the Estonian President on the morning of võidupüha (June 23). From this fire, the flame of independence was carried across the country to light the many bonfires. During the transition to the re-establishment of Estonia's de facto independence, jaanipäev became an unofficial holiday, with many workplaces closing down. It once again became an official national holiday in 1992.
On jaaniõhtu, Estonians all around the country will gather with their families, or at larger events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing and lighting the bonfires, as Estonians have done for centuries.
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Jaanipäev
Jaanipäev (literally, 'John's day') or leedopäev (literally, 'fire day') is the longest celebrated public holiday and one of the most important summer holidays in the Estonian folk calendar. It corresponds to English Midsummer Day.
On jaaniõhtu (literally, 'John's evening', the night before jaanipäev), Estonians gather with their families and friends or at larger (often public) events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing, drinking and eating, and lighting 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.
As the Estonian 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".
In traditional Estonian leedopäev (literally, 'fire day'), commonly known as jaanipäev (literally, 'John's day'), is called Midsummer Day in English, juhannuspäivä or ukko by Finnish, Jāņu diena by Latvians, and St John's Day by the Christians. There are several other less known names for jaanipäev in Estonian, some of them are: suvine pööripäev, suvepööripäev, püäripääv, päevakäänak, päiväkäänäk, päiväkäändjäne, päevapesa, pesapäev and suured päevad.
It is said that the traditions of jaanipäev started with the fall of the Kaali meteorite around 4,000 years ago, lighting of bonfires to re-enact the falling of the meteorite when it lit the night said to seem like the sun rose again in the night.
Jaanipäev celebrations were merged with the celebration of võidupüha ('Victory Day') during the War of Independence when Estonian forces defeated the German troops in the Battle of Cēsis (Võnnu) on 23 June 1919. After this battle against Estonia's traditional oppressors, jaaniõhtu and the lighting of the traditional bonfires became linked with the ideals of independence and freedom. Since 1934, June 23 is also national Victory Day of Estonia, and both the 23rd and 24th are holidays and flag days - when the blue-black-white tricolor is raised at sunrise. The Estonian flag is not lowered in the night between these two days.
The tradition before the Soviet occupation was for a bonfire to be lit by the Estonian President on the morning of võidupüha (June 23). From this fire, the flame of independence was carried across the country to light the many bonfires. During the transition to the re-establishment of Estonia's de facto independence, jaanipäev became an unofficial holiday, with many workplaces closing down. It once again became an official national holiday in 1992.
On jaaniõhtu, Estonians all around the country will gather with their families, or at larger events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing and lighting the bonfires, as Estonians have done for centuries.
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