#midsummer day

Turning of the Wheel: Summer Solstice traditions in Latvia

Photographed by Jānis Jusjukevičs and Ivo Kušķis

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Rooted in ancient pre-Christian nature worship, Latvia’s midsummer festival called "Līgo" or "Jāņi, historically honored the summer solstice figure Jānis.

Jānis is a complex and debated figure in Latvian mythology. Often mistakenly referred to as a deity of fertility and light, and additionally being linked to the Dieva Dēli - twin sons of the sky god found in Baltic and other Indo-European traditional beliefs (i.e. Ashvins in Hinduism). Unlike other deities of the Baltic pantheon, he appears almost exclusively in connection with the Midsummer festival, raising questions about his origins. Some scholars believe the name "Jānis" may be a later adaptation of John the Baptist, introduced during Christianization. However, the rituals associated with his festival, such as: bonfires, wreaths, fertility symbols, and even remnants of phallic cult practices, are unmistakably pre-Christian and rooted in ancient agrarian traditions.

This pattern is where I found the insects I used in my midsummer/Kupala piece.

Mussorgsky wrote the piece based on Nikolai Gogol’s short story “St. John’s Eve,” available via the link.

Or you may want to take in a performance, live or recorded, of Will Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which some believe was written to celebrate this night, the 24th being Midsummer Day.

Here are four lovable moptops in 1964 mugging their way through that work’s play-within-a-play, the tragical tale of the lovers Pyramus and Thisbe:

Source: Maren Toom photo - jaaniõhtu. Midsummer night in the country garden.

Happy Midsummer to all of my gays, theys, and unashamed f*ggots ily all 🧚‍♂️✨💘🌞❤️‍🔥🥰