17. BF Midsummer's Eve

Apr 29, 2022, 02:36 PM

Speaker: John Ward

Midsummer's Eve was celebrated on the 23rd of June. At the heart of the celebrations was the bonfire which had been so for centuries in saluting the sun at its height before it declined south once again. All ages were involved in the gathering of any material to complete the bonfire, including bones which were believed to allow the fire to burn longer. It is from bone that we get the original word bone fire later becoming bonfire. This ancient Irish tradition of bone burning was in imitation of ancient sacrifices with the extra crackling sounds and extra stray sparks of them adding to the grandeur and excitement of this annual spectacle. Unlike Bealtaine fires which were a festive celebration, these were communal fires that were lit to great excitement after the working day.

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