- Categories:
- Cultural
- Tags:
- AppreciationFestivitiesSummer
- Where:
- Finland
- Date change rule:
- The Saturday that falls between June 20 to 26
- Holiday emoji:
- ☀️
Midsummer Day, or Juhannus, lights up Finland on the Saturday that falls between June 20 to 26 every year, marking the summer solstice. It’s a time for bonfires, outdoor celebrations, and enjoying the magical Midnight Sun. Gather friends, light a campfire, and dance through the longest days of the year!
Want to sponsor Midsummer Day? Learn how
Expected Midsummer Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows retailers often offer discounts on outdoor gear, travel packages, and summer fashion. Look for deals from brands like REI for camping essentials, Finnair for flights to Finland, and Marimekko for festive summer attire. Home goods stores such as IKEA might feature specials on outdoor furniture and picnic supplies. Finnish food brands like Fazer and Valio could offer promotions on treats and dairy products perfect for a Midsummer feast. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as June 26 approaches.
Platform Guide for Midsummer Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #MidsummerDay. Film your outdoor celebrations, bonfire preparations, or Midnight Sun experiences.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #MidsummerDay. Share stunning photos of the Midnight Sun, flower crowns, and festive gatherings.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #MidsummerDay. Share stories of your family’s Midsummer traditions or local events.
Midsummer Day Hero
Saint John the Baptist
History of Midsummer Day
Besides Finland being the happiest country, it’s reportedly one of the most magical and historical places on Earth as well. Traditionally, Midsummer was a pagan summer festival of harvest and fertility. Initially, the day would be spent hosting parties, paying tribute to and honoring the Finnish god of thunder, Ukko, so that he would be happy and assure a good harvest. Ukko controlled the fall of rain and so they were obliged to please him.
After Christianity arrived in Finland, the Midsummer festival of the pagans became discreetly associated with Christian celebrations. Also called Juhannus, Midsummer’s Day is now celebrated in the memory of John the Baptist whose birthday is also celebrated during this time.
Midsummer’s Day is known for countless key traditions including Nightless Night, characterized by a belief in witches, fairies, and elves who descend on Earth (that’s why the night is lit!) to tease humans and predict their futures. Driven by this tradition, young people buy bouquets of seven or nine different flowers, place them under their pillow, and hope to dream about their future spouse. The Midsummer weekend is also popular for weddings, in the name of fertility.
Another tradition is hosting ‘kokko’ – a huge bonfire that’s placed near water, casting a stunning reflection on the crystal-clear lakes together with the hues of the Midnight Sun. Since the times of pagans, Midsummer Day in Finland is a lively and cheerful celebration that locals keenly await.
Midsummer Day timeline
In honor of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the feast day is established by the undivided Christian Church.
By the 6th century A.D, several churches start honoring St. John’s Eve and Christian priests hold three Masses in churches for celebration.
Across various countries, St. John’s Eve is celebrated as “a custom to carry lighted torches on Midsummer-eve, as an emblem of St. John the Baptist, who was 'a burning and shining light' and the preparer of the way of Christ,” according to “The Olio, Or, Museum of Entertainment, Volume 7."
Traditionally celebrated on a fixed day on June 24, the holiday is moved to Friday and Saturday between June 19 and June 26.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Midsummer Day
Local businesses can honor Midsummer Day by hosting outdoor events, offering discounts on summer gear, or creating special menus with Finnish-inspired dishes. Travel agencies can promote Midnight Sun packages, while retailers can feature festive decorations and picnic supplies. Restaurants might offer themed cocktails or traditional Midsummer foods like new potatoes and herring. Highlight the joy of long summer days and the unique cultural heritage of the celebration to engage customers authentically.
Midsummer Day FAQs
When is Midsummer Day?
In 2027, Midsummer Day will be observed on Saturday, June 26, continuing the tradition of celebrating the summer solstice with a long weekend.
How is Midsummer Day celebrated in Finland?
Celebrations often involve traditional rituals like weaving flower wreaths, enjoying outdoor feasts, and staying up late to experience the Midnight Sun, particularly north of the Arctic Circle.
Why is Midsummer Day celebrated on a Saturday?
This change ensures that the holiday can be enjoyed as a public holiday, providing a long weekend for people to travel to their summer cabins and engage in festivities without work obligations.
What is the significance of the Midnight Sun?
For Finns, the Midnight Sun during Midsummer represents a period of rejuvenation and joy, allowing for extended outdoor activities and a deep connection with nature during the longest days of the year.
Midsummer Day Activities
Go to the bonfire
There are countless activities to do on a Midsummer's Eve in Finland, but attending that massive bonfire by the lake is a must! While you’re at it, dive into the crystal-clear lake for a swim at midnight when it’s still bright.
Cast a Midsummer spell
Midsummers in Finland are magical and that’s the best part of the day in this country. Try casting a spell, perhaps by going foraging for flowers in a meadow to place under your pillow to dream about your future husband/wife or help your love life.
Treat yourself to a Midsummer feast
Midsummer Day has a special menu. Fish, locally-grown strawberries, pickled herring, and open-fire pancakes, to mention a few, are some of the traditional Juhannus dishes.
5 Facts About Finland That You Didn’t Know
It’s the land of the Midnight Sun
The sun doesn’t set for 73 consecutive summer days while it doesn’t rise for 51 days in winter.
It’s also the land of aurora borealis
Aurora borealis, the polar lights, are seen regularly in Lapland and other parts of Finland.
Finnish is the hardest language!
Difficult and unique, Finns love their language so much that they celebrate it on April 9 every year.
More saunas than cars
Finland has a population of 5.4 million and has over 3 million saunas alone!
It rains 180 days a year
That’s right, it rains for half a year in Finland — no wonder Finns wait all year long for the season when the sun comes out and never sets!
Why We Love Midsummer Day
It’s astronomically breathtaking!
No doubt about it. Midsummer’s Eve in Finland is a rare sight with the Midnight Sun and aurora borealis lighting up the sky in dancing hues.
It’s consecutive days of sun, warmth, and no rain
A country that’s popular for igloos, hot steam baths in every home, and never-ending rain, Midsummer’s Eve is eagerly awaited to mark the start of the summer season.
It’s a sign of fertility and good fortune
Dating back to the days when pagans inhabited Finland, the concept of fertility and good fortune has long been believed in by most Finns. Apart from scheduling weddings on Midsummer Day, babies born in this time are also considered a good sign.
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