Midsummer's Eve – St John's Eve St John’s Day, the feast of St John the Baptist, or Midsummer’s Day as it is sometimes called, occurs on 24 June. In many cultures, however, it is 23 June, the vigil of the feast, that is considered more significant because of the wealth of superstition that surrounds it - much of it going back to pagan times. Evidence for Midsummer celebrations in Ireland can be found as far back as the early fourteenth century. There is an ancient belief, for example, that on Midsummer’s Eve, the soul wanders from the body and makes its way on a sort of preliminary visit to the eventual place of death. In many parts of Ireland, bonfires were lit and, indeed, still are on St John’s Eve, to guide the souls back to their bodies. #instapoem #instapoet #instapoetry #poetry #poem #poems #poet #poetrycommunity #writerscommunity #writing #creative #creativewriting #workinprogress #watchthisspace #poetryisnotdead #spilledink #writersofinstagram #poetsofinstagram #poetsofig #writersofig #avoicefromfaraway #stjohnseve #oíchefhéileeoin #bonfire #traditional #tradition #soul #gloaming













