Christmas in addition the Midsummer is very important celebration to me and my family.
Before 1316, the summer solstice was called Ukon juhla, after an old Finnish god Ukko. In Karelia, people had many bonfires side by side, the biggest of which was called Ukko-kokko (the "bonfire of Ukko"). At present, the midsummer holiday is known as Juhannus.
Midsummer magic is an important part of Finnish folk tradition. The Midsummer night was believed to be a potent time for magic, and magic tricks and rituals were performed mostly for love, fertility and marriage. A person’s future could also be predicted by performing certain rituals on Midsummer Eve.
Many finns leave the cities enmasse to gather around ceremonial bonfires in the countryside to welcome the arrival of summer in the company of friends and family. Going to the sauna is another essential part of Finnish Midsummer celebrations.
Many music festivals of all sizes are organized on the Midsummer weekend and a great many people are very drunk and happy ;0)
It is also an occasion when many people look for a relationship (often a rather short one).
Hyvää Juhannusta teille kaikille!!!!