Sankt Hans Aften

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Celebrated since the times of Vikings, Sankt Hans Aften (St. John's Eve) as it is known here in Denmark, is a solstitial celebration, full of bonfires and witch burning (I better hide).

It was an official holiday until 1770, and in accordance with Danish tradition of celebrating the evening before the actual day, it takes place on the evening of June 23rd. On this day, the wise men and women (doctors) of the medieval times would collect the special herbs needed, to cure people for the rest of the year.

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People visited healing water wells and made large bonfires, to ward away evil spirits. Today, the water well tradition has all but dried up. Nowadays, people gather for bonfires on the beaches (as well as, lake shores, parks, waterways, etc. where beaches aren't accessible). Speeches are given, songs are traditionally sung, and picnics are had.

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The tradition of adding a witch (made of cloth and straw by the elder women) to the top of a bonfire began in the 1920s. This tradition was a remembrance of the church's witch burnings from 1540 to 1693. This burning sent the witch away, to Brocken, (the highest peak of the Harz Mountain Range in Northern Germany) where the the great witch gathering was believed to be held on this day.

In 1885, Holger Drachmann and P.E. Lange-Müller wrote a midsommervise (Midsummer hymn) called "Vi elsker vort land" ("We Love Our Country"), which is sung at every bonfire on this evening.

Here are 2 versions of the song.

The popular version, from 1980:


The instrumental version:

How do you celebrate Litha/Midsummer/Summer solstice/Sankt Hans? Do you call it something else?