Midsummer's Day is approaching!

St. John's Day or Jaanipäev as it is known in Estonian is one of the oldest and most celebrated day in Estonia. It is the second most important day on the Estonian calendar after Christmas. 

Due to its cultural significance Jaanipäev is a national holiday in Estonia, giving city dwellers the chance to head to the countryside to celebrate. People tend to spend the day with friends and family, either by enjoying a BBQ in their gardens or having a picnic in the forest. Jaanipäev parties (Jaanipidu) always begin on Midsummer's Eve and feature live music and massive bonfires. During Jaanipäev it is common to stay up until dawn.

Midsummer's Eve traditions and folk beliefs:

Young women looking for a glimpse into the future are advised to collect nine different types of flowers and place them under a pillow for the night, resulting in a predictive dream revealing a future spouse. 

Young lovers wander through the forest looking for a lucky fern flower said to bloom only on this night. If you are lucky enough to spot a glowworm, you may expect a great fortune. 

The more adventurous boys and girls are known to jump over the bonfire in hopes of achieving prosperity or to swing as high as possible on the village's wooden swing. 

More modern traditions include singing, dancing, and the telling of old folk tales.