We have just finished celebrating the Summer Solstice, an anniversary associated with St John. Several other bloggers have included this event in their recent posts. The associations are sometimes quite bizarre. In Denmark they burn an effigy of a witch. It is supposed to get rid of all bad things for the coming year, and ensure a good harvest. These first two photos represent the event as it takes place on Vancouver Island each year in Ladysmith, one we attended many times.
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| Burning the Witch, Transfer Beach, Ladysmith, Sankt Hans Aften. |
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| Almost Done |
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| Jytte's Birthday Cake! |
The third picture is of one of our old friends, a real Danish witch, being feted (appropriately with flames) at her birthday party in Nanaimo. She is a real witch because she is the 13th child in her family, and she was born on
Sankt Hans Eve.
In Malaga, Spain, they have fireworks, a bonfire, and jump through the flames to cleanse themselves from all evil. In addition, they use the bonfire "To get rid of unwanted things". This is the part that caught my eye. How wonderful! We are all members of a consumer society. We all buy too much stuff. What a great ritual to get rid of our excessive possessions! We hope St. John would approve. Not sure though!
8 comments:
The cake looks great!
I thought you were being facetious calling Jytte a witch and had visions of her rushing over to your home to whack you over the head with her broom. Fortunately, you explained yourself and I was able to relax once more. The cake does look good.
Thank you for highlighting these unusual traditions. We do not celebrate anything similar here.
The cake does look very good........my husband somethimes calls me a witch.....hihihi....when i'm bad......but, there are also nice witches.....aren't there !? :)
Have a nice weekend.
BIanca xx
The cake does look good :)
Thirteen children in a family must make for lots of friends, but also, lots of chores! Happy birthday Jytte!
That is one pretty witch. Looks like she lives an excellent and happy life. I was born on the shortest day of the year...that means I am NOT a witch...right?
Hanne is a witch. She was born on 22nd February. Tabor is a witch. Bianca is a witch. Cherie is a witch too. And Des. And Claudia. And Jenny. And even H. Probably all women are witches. This is what happens when they catch a man:- He gets bewitched, also brain-washed. RIGHT?
That is very insolent, Michael...I'll have to have a quiet word in Hanne's ear about you ;)
Merriam Webster Dictionary:-
A Witch is a charming or alluring girl or woman.
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