Like in Norway, Denmark also enjoy their summer solstice festivities on 23 June every year. You’ll see bonfires during Sankthansaften and many Danes will toss twig and cloth effigies of a witch into the fire. Like in Finland and Norway, this is to make sure that evil spirits are kept away.
Is midsummer celebration in Denmark?
In Denmark, the solstitial celebration is called sankthans or sankthansaften (“St. John’s Eve”) . It was an official holiday until 1770, and in accordance with the Danish tradition of celebrating a holiday on the evening before the actual day, it takes place on the evening of 23 June.
Do the Danish celebrate midsummer?
It’s the Danish version of Midsummer, which Nordic countries joyfully celebrate during the summer solstice. ... Known in Denmark as Sankt Hans Aften, it is observed on June 23 , the night before the feast day of St. John the Baptist.
What is midsummer Denmark?
Sankt Hans as Midsummer’s Eve is known in Denmark, is often spent on the beach with huge bonfires. Midsummer’s Eve is celebrated on the 23rd of June , and like Christmas, this festive day is a remnant from old pagan customs. It is the celebration of the longest (summer) and shortest (winter) day of the year.
What countries celebrate summer solstice?
- Sweden. Moving back to Europe, Sweden is surely the unrivalled champion of midsummer celebrations. ...
- Other Nordic countries. Is it unfair to lump Norway, Finland and Iceland under one entry? ...
- UK & Ireland. ...
- Latvia. ...
- Spain. ...
- U.S.A. ...
- Russia & Ukraine. ...
- Austria.
Is midsommar the solstice?
Midsummer takes place in June and is a celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
What religion is practiced in Denmark?
In Denmark, 75 % of the population are registered members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church . But less than a fifth of Danes see themselves as “very religious.” Christianity has shaped Denmark’s culture, and the Danish countryside remains dotted with traditional churches.
Why is June 24 called Midsummer Day?
John the Baptist on June 24, six months before Christmas , to coincide with Midsummer (according to the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist was born six months before his cousin, Jesus, which is why this is a fixed date on the 24th).
What is Denmark celebrating?
Danish holidays and traditions. Most of Denmark’s holidays are based around the Christian calendar, with Christmas, Easter and the midsummer festival of Saint Hans among the most important. Each of these holidays comes with its own traditions and family gatherings.
Why is it called Midsummer?
So why is the first day of summer called midsummer? Quite simply because it is the middle of summer! In a world with only two seasons — summer and winter — summer starts with the vernal equinox and ends with the autumnal one.
Who celebrates the solstice?
In ancient China , the summer solstice was observed by a ceremony to celebrate the Earth, femininity, and the “yin” forces. It complemented the Winter Solstice that celebrated the heavens, masculinity and “yang” forces. According to Chinese tradition, the shortest shadow is found on the day of the Summer Solstice.
Why is summer solstice so important?
A completion. Ever since the Winter Solstice, the sun has been slowly growing and the days have steadily been getting longer. On the Summer Solstice, the sun reaches its peak and it completes its cycle of growth . This makes the Summer Solstice an excellent time to reflect on peak moments in your own life.
What do you eat on summer solstice?
Any food you provide should be Sun-colored, and perhaps round.” Some traditional foods involving such round, sun-colored fruits and vegetables include pumpernickel bread, mead , and grilled foods that use an open flame to represent the sun.
Is midsommar based on a true story?
Ari Aster’s horror flick Midsommar tells the story of a young couple who travel to Sweden with friends in tow, and visit a small town’s mid-summer festival. ... Although perhaps not based on a true story, the film is indeed inspired by real-life traditions .
Why does Dani smile at the end of midsommar?
The plot is simple, outsiders visit a new place and via pagan rituals are killed off. If we look at the ending as a fairytale perhaps we get an answer as to why Dani is smiling. Having lost her whole family she’s been orphaned .
What is the point of the movie midsommar?
Midsommar is essentially a two and a half hour study of one woman’s emotional journey towards emancipation from a toxic relationship . Like director Ari Aster’s first film, Hereditary, it’s a dark drama disguised as a terror flick. Unlike Hereditary, it has a happy ending.
