nativityofstjohnthebaptist

Midsummer/St. John's Day

Midsummer/St. John's Day

June 24 is a summer festival! June 24 is the feast commemorating the birth of John the Baptist. The feast brings together images of sun, solstice, and midsummer. According to Luke's gospel, John was six months older than Jesus, so this festival is exactly six months before December 24. The nativity of John was established very early in the church's history, about the same time as Christmas.