Sankt Hans Aften

Sankt Hans Aften is a midsummer party to celebrate the summer solstice. I think these celebrations only take place in Europe and the exact date varies from 1-4 days between cultures/ countries. Because I asked a lot of Danes about the story behind the St. Hans and nobody could give me a straight answer I went for a fast search in Wikipedia.

“In Denmark, the solstitial celebration is called Sankt Hans aften ("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. It is the day where the medieval wise men and women (the doctors of that time) would gather special herbs that they needed for the rest of the year to cure people.

It has been celebrated since the times of the Vikings by visiting healing water wells and making a large bonfire to ward away evil spirits. Today the water well tradition is gone. Bonfires on the beach, speeches, picnics and songs are traditional, although bonfires are built in many other places where beaches may not be close by (i.e. on the shores of lakes and other waterways, parks, etc.) In the 1920s a tradition of putting a witch made of straw and cloth (probably made by the elder women of the family) on the bonfire emerged as a remembrance of the church's witch burnings from 1540 to 1693. This burning sends the "witch" away to Bloksbjerg, the mountain 'Brocken' in the Harz region of Germany where the great witch gathering was thought to be held on this day”.

Well as far as I am concerned I had a busy day. Busy at work, followed by gym where I run fast for 20 min, go home to change and get on the bike (again) to peddle for 16 Km (back and forth - my poor legs) to I watch the bonfires at the beach in Hellerup. We went to T´s flat (fantastic view to the sea) and we barbecued in the sand. Fantastic! Steaks, sausages, salad, white wine, mace, strawberries, cherries and cake. Lots of light, warm weather and a rooibos tea with some mint leaves to end the night.