Mid summers Eve

Mid summers Eve

Introduction

Eve of 24^th June (Saint John’s eve or mid summers eve) was a popular time for festival. Fires were lit on hills and feasting and drunken bacchanalias took place around. Bonfire – bones burnt to drive away evil and protect the harvest. Wakefire was the burning of wood for merry making. Bones and wood burnt together was known as Saint John’s fire.

The festival continued on mid summers day with various traditions including:

Parades of giants and dragons, a feathered devil and naked boys.

Lighting of bonfires and rolling of fire wheels on mid summers eve (wheel is Romano Celtic sun symbol). The first reference to rolling a burning wheel down a hill was recorded in 4th century.

The carrying of fire around fields.

Blessing of apple trees.

Wassail bowls were decorated with ribbons and rosemary.

The poem is set about the 15th century

Mid Summers Eve   

The eve of the merry, feast of Saint John,

A short night for to, gather herbs upon.

The wise are picking, medicinal flowers,

Two days after shortest, night’s last hours.

The bones and wood, of Saint John’s fire close by,

Protecting the harvest, with bonfire high.

Drive away evil, by burning some bone,

Hang lanterns outside, cast out the unknown.

Wakefire of wood, for making merry,

Jolly wassail bowl, ward off the fairy.

Merrymaking into, the hours small,

Into lechery, men and women fall.

Carry fire round field, fun in the revel.

The naked boys and, the feathered devil.

Dragons and giants, march in procession,

Midsummer feasting, night indiscretion.

 

The Field Marigold, the best night to pick,

These precious hours, vanishing so quick.

Other miraculous, mid-summer plants,

Wise folk gather with, traditional chants.

Are witches afoot, with healing powers?

Gathering herbs, in barmy small hours.

Drunken gluttony, drive away sadness,

Rolling sun fire wheel, midsummer madness.

Copyright Andrew Rea August 2011