Midsummer bonfire

In the Finnish midsummer celebration, bonfires (Finnish kokko) are very common. In old Karelian tradition, many bonfires were burned side by side, the biggest of which was called Ukko-kokko, the bonfire of Ukko, after the Finnish god Ukko. Bonfires were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southward again. Before 1316, the summer solstice was called Ukon juhla, Ukko's celebration. After the celebrations were Christianized, the holiday became known as juhannus after John the Baptist (Finnish: Johannes Kastaja). Since 1955, the holiday has always been on a Saturday (between June 20 and June 26). Earlier it was always on June 24.

Our midsummer bonfire is always lit after midnight, this year it was around 01:30. We just don't make it earlier.


+8°C, cloudy, some rain showers