When the scents of summer herbs, the stillness of water, and the glow of fire merge in the twilight of the year’s shortest night, the ancient magic of St. John’s Day comes alive…
We invite you to join us on June 23 at 7:00 PM at the Open Air Museum of Lithuania and welcome together the most mysterious night of summer.
We will gather and bless herbs, listen to their whispered stories, honour those named Jonas and Janina, weave flower wreaths and set them afloat on the water, and build the great Midsummer bonfire. The bravest participants will have the chance to leap over the flames, wishing themselves good fortune, health, and strength. And somewhere between the water, the fire, and the silence of the night, there will still await that which is sought anew each year – the legendary fern blossom.
We will celebrate until dawn, accompanying the sun into the night and welcoming together the first light of the morning.
PROGRAMME
Event location: Dzūkija Sector and the surroundings of the Barn Theatre (Klojimo Theatre).
19:00–22:00 Festive gates, wreath-making, gathering herbs (kupoliavimas), Midsummer fortune-telling, stories about medicinal plants, competitions, games, and circle dances with the Rumšiškės Cultural Centre folklore ensemble “Nedėja”, the Vytautas Magnus University folklore ensemble “Linago”, the Raudondvaris Cultural Centre (Kaunas District) folklore ensemble “Piliarožė”, and the Kaunas Ethnic Culture Centre folklore ensemble “Ratilėlis” (on the hill in the Dzūkija village).
21:00–21:30 Greeting and refreshments for those named Jonas, Jonė, Janina, and related names (Dzūkija village).
19:00–00:00 Traditional village children’s and youth games, ghost stories, and fairy tales (Rudamina Homestead, Dzūkija).
22:30–22:50 Lighting of the ceremonial altar fire, farewell to the setting sun, and procession to the main bonfire (on the hill in the Dzūkija village).
22:50–23:00 Rolling burning wheels down the hill, lighting of wheel hubs and the main bonfire (Barn Theatre Valley).
23:00–00:30 Night dances with the instrumental folk music group “Krikščiūnų šeimos kapelija” (Barn Theatre Valley).
23:30–01:00 Floating wreaths on the water and searching for the mythical fern blossom (near the Praviena stream and Rudamina Homestead).
00:45–01:45 Concert: Adas and Viltė (Barn Theatre Valley).
02:00–03:00 Concert: Vilko Pupos (Barn Theatre Valley).
03:00–04:20 Conversations around the bonfire (Barn Theatre Valley).
04:20–05:00 Welcoming the sunrise.
The organizers reserve the right to make minor changes to the programme.
On the occasion of the celebration, all indoor museum exhibitions will remain open longer than usual – until 20:00. Indoor exhibitions in the Dzūkija Sector will be open until 23:00.
Please note that photography and filming will take place during the event. The recorded visual material may be used for the museum’s promotional and communication purposes.