Dyn Hysbys Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 Tonight, June 23rd, is St. John's Eve, the old Pagan midsummer / solstice festival in disguise. Across different parts of Europe bonfires will be lit to mark the occasion. I am a Witch of Welsh descent, and (in Wales) tonight is considered an ysbrydnos or "spirit night", meaning that ghosts and spirits will be out and about. (There are three spirit nights in Wales, the other two are Winter's Eve and May Eve.) I want to wish blessings to all the other Pagans out there (and to the Christians who celebrate St.John's Eve as well ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawzo Posted June 24, 2010 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 I hope you enjoy your evening!!Which St. John is the Festivities named in honor of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyn Hysbys Posted June 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 Thank you ! It commemorates the nativity of John the Baptist. Of course most of the folk customs are pre-Christian and solar oriented, being attached to the saint at a later time. The Church assigned the summer solstice to St. John and the Winter solstice to Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatsutsume Posted June 24, 2010 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 St. John the Baptist is also the patron saint of the Templar Knights, as granted them by Benard of Clairvoux and Pope Urban II. He was also the patron saint of the Cistercian Monks, whom Benard of Clairvoux was part of, and of sheepheaders. In some beliefs John the Baptist is placed above Jesus as the Messiah, as is the case of Mandaeans, a small sect in rual Iran. There is a whole conspiracy theory behind it, but that is another story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawzo Posted June 24, 2010 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 St. John the Baptist is also the patron saint of the Templar Knights, as granted them by Benard of Clairvoux and Pope Urban II. He was also the patron saint of the Cistercian Monks, whom Benard of Clairvoux was part of, and of sheepheaders. In some beliefs John the Baptist is placed above Jesus as the Messiah, as is the case of Mandaeans, a small sect in rual Iran. There is a whole conspiracy theory behind it, but that is another story.Ok that clarifies a bit better. Yes the Gospel of John writer tried to marginal the Baptist for this very reason.There were those who thought John was the Messiah and Jesus was just a disciple who took up the torch after John's death. One reason why in the Gospel of John the writer doesn't clearly define that John baptizes Jesus and we merely have the secne of the dove descending from on high.Thanks for the info everyone it will make me enjoy the Summer Solstice a little bit more now each year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts