Learn all about St John's Eve
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Norway Series at NorwegianClass101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Norwegian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 7 St John's Eve. In Norwegian, it’s called sankthansaften. |
| St. John’s Eve, also called Midsummer’s Eve, is celebrated on June 23, and is an evening much appreciated by Norwegians. The celebration of Midsummer’s Eve historically took place as a remembrance of the birth of John the Baptist, but is also held to celebrate midsummer or the sommersolverv, meaning summer solstice. Midsummer’s Eve can also be called jonsok, which originates from Norse and means “vigil for John”. In this lesson you will learn how Norwegians celebrate Midsummer’s Eve. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| How tall do you think the biggest bonfire has been in Norway to date? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Though as a folk tradition St John's Eve does not hold the same weight that it used to, it is still celebrated in Norway even today. Most Norwegians will start their celebrations in the afternoon. Friends and family gather to eat and drink together, and the most common activity is to have a barbecue party, or grillfest. After this, the children and adults will play or relax and chat. The day after Midsummer’s Eve is no longer a holiday, so some Norwegians refrain from celebrating St John's Eve. |
| After eating and having fun for hours, people usually come together to watch the lighting of St John’s bonfires, called sankthansbål. Along Norway's coastline, you can see one bonfire light up after another. Watching these bonfires burn at dusk is something very close to the hearts of the people of Norway. In certain places, it’s also a tradition to go up into the mountains instead of enjoying bonfires. |
| Midsummer’s Eve doesn't only mean burning many bonfires, but also båter, meaning boats. In the southern part of Norway, in Flekkefjord, it is common to set an old boat filled with burning materials on fire. This tradition started in the 1800s when kids found an old boat, filled it up, lit a fire, and pulled the boat through the streets. Because of the fire hazard, boats are now anchored in the ocean and set alight there. |
| A long time ago, people believed that witches, or in Norwegian hekser, and other supernatural elements were abnormally strong on Midsummer’s Eve. People gathered herbs and made a bonfire to keep the witches away, and some people claim this to be the origin of the Midsummer’s Eve bonfires. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| How tall do you think the biggest bonfire has been in Norway to date? |
| The tallest bonfire in Norway was in 2010, and measured 40.25 meters. This bonfire currently holds the world record, and is called Slinningsbålet. However, nowadays due to fire hazard and pollution, many places in Norway prohibit bonfires on St John's Eve. |
| What did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Do you have St John's Eve bonfires in your country? |
| Leave us your comments on NorwegianClass101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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