At the summer solstice, these bonfires are a common sight throughout Franconian Switzerland. People come together in a convivial atmosphere to celebrate the day by lighting a large bonfire.
📜 Background
The fires date back to an ancient solstice custom used to celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The Church fixed the custom for 24 June, St John’s Day, the birthday of John the Baptist, hence the name.
🔥 Custom & Procedure
In many places, local young people go from house to house collecting wood, often reciting an old chant; in the past they used handcarts, but today they use tractors. As darkness falls, the large pile of wood is set alight, accompanied by music, food and a convivial get-together. In some places, tradition dictates that only those named Johannes, Hans or Hanna are allowed to light the fire.
📍 Where
One well-known example is the St John’s Fire in Bärnfels (municipality of Obertrubach), which has been celebrated for centuries. It is usually held on the Saturday around 24 June.