(Midsummer's Eve)
| Sobotka, Midsummer's Eve (the summer solstice), is celebrated in
Poland by lighting bonfires and tossing garlands of flowers
into the rivers. This tradition stems back to an ancient
belief that fire protected one against misfortune. It was thought
that a very good harvest could be ensured by filling the fields
with smoke. Many European countries celebrated the day in much the
same manner. The above painting by Jules Brenton depicts French peasants
celebrating the feast of St. John the Baptist which alsocoincides
with the summer soltice.
The old Polish custom called for young boys to jump through the bonfire around which the young girls danced and sang. Needless to say, this very hazardous rite was the cause of many injuries. Fortunately, it was abandoned years ago. The only traces of Sobotka that remain today in Poland are bonfires enjoyed by crowds of spectators along riverbanks on June 23rd and June 24th (Saint John the Baptist's Day and Saint Wanda's name day). In Krakow candle-lit wreaths are floated on the Vistula and a grand fireworks display is held to commemorate the holiday. Another Polish belief associated with St. John's Eve is that
on this night the fern blooms only for a brief moment night somewhere
in the deep recesses of the forests. According to legend,
whoever finds the elusive fern will soon find great treasures.
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Floating
of the Wreaths
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