Juhannus celebrations begin in Finland amidst festivity, joy

People from all walks of life started to celebrate the Juhannus (Midsummer), one of the largest traditional festivals on Friday evening.

People thronged the banks of lakes, rivers and sea along with their family, relations and friends and ignited bonfires on the eve of the Midsummer to add colours to the festival.

There will be exotic foods and drinks, besides music, dance, songs and making fun, on the occasion of the biggest summer celebration.

According to the weather forecast, the Midsummer will be celebrated amidst sunny and warm weather in most parts of the country while the weather in the northern part will be cloudy and rainy.

The temperature from Friday to Sunday likely to be 12 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius, according to the Met Office.

All offices including government and private excepting the emergency services will remain closed till Monday.

There are various events to go around in various parts of Helsinki and other parts of the country.

The Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires event has been one of the most beloved Midsummer traditions in Helsinki since 1956.

The event delighted people with its colourful national costumes, skilled folk dancers and folk musicians.

The traditional maypole, or Midsummer pole, raised at 6.00 p.m. and bonfires set ablaze in Kokkoranta at 9.00 p.m.

The traditional Midsummer Eve celebrations on the island of Seurasaari began at 5:00pm on and the celebrations will continue all the way until midnight.

The programme also includes other smaller bonfires, a Midsummer pole decorated in flowers, Finnish folk dances and a magic path where you can make spells in the enchanted night.

Midsummer is also the Day of the Finnish Flag. Flags are raised at 6.00 p.m. on Midsummer’s Eve and will be lowered on Midsummer Day at 9.00 p.m.

It is believed that the biblical John the Baptist was born on the Midsummer Day.

After the Christianisation of Scandinavia in the Middle Ages, the Midsummer day was fixed on June 24 to commemorate St. John the Baptist, the saint who baptised Jesus.

Nowadays, Midsummer, however, is celebrated on the Saturday between June 20 and June 26 and the celebrations combine both pagan and Christian traditions.