Jāņi

In ancient Latvia, Jani was the most important festival. It was held on June 23 and celebrated the Summer Solstice (although, after Christianization, it was associated with the eve of Saint John the Baptist's feast day, which falls on June 24). In preparation, everything in the town, including buildings and livestock, were decorated with garlands of papardi (ferns) and janu zali (John's grass). The gates, doors, barns and beds were decorated by ozolu (oak) and berzu (birch) branches. Doors were adorned especially well in order to keep bad spirits (such as witches) away. The people feasted on beer and a special ceremonial cheese called caraway cheese. The houses were scrubbed clean and emptied of furniture except for tables and chairs.

The leader of the celebration was called Janis -- a common Latvian name, meaning John; one of the requirements of being a leader was to be called Janis (Janu tevs). He handed out beer and wore an oak wreath while his wife (Janu mate) handed out cheese and wore a flower crown.

Then, the people lit bonfires and sang songs while dancing. The songs included the word Ligo, which mystically brought the god Janis to the land to bless the fields and give them an abundant harvest. He was thought of as tall and handsome, riding a horse and wearing an oak wreath.

Children traditionally went into the woods on Jani, searching for the fern blossom (like a "snipe hunt" in North America, since the fern blossom does not exist) which supposedly bloomed only at night on Jani. Searching for, and theoretically finding, the fern blossom brought good luck. Adults jumped across fires and danced ritual dances around the fire or a sacred oak.