Jaanipäev (Midsummer Day)

St. John's Day is a holiday celebrated on June 24 in Estonia . The night before June 24, is called Midsummer's Day, and the night between them is called Midsummer's Eve. It is celebrated in Estonia, Latvia, and the Nordic countries with Midsummer lights. The name of St. John's Day comes from the church calendar; the birthday of John the Baptist is celebrated in the church on this day.

Midsummer's Saturday and Midsummer's Day have been public holidays in Estonia since 1934. Since 2012 , Victory Day is celebrated in Estonia on Midsummer's Saturday , which celebrates the victory of Estonian troops in the Battle of Võnnu on June 23, 1919, over the Landeswehr in the War of Independence. At the proposal of President Lennart Meri, the Victory Day parades will be held alternately in all Estonian cities.

Midsummer's Day is an ancient holiday in the folk calendar. Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Eve are widely celebrated in Estonia with midsummer lights, which have a magical cleansing effect and a symbolic connection with the solstice and the height of the sun. On this occasion, it is customary to organize both public parties and celebrate the holiday with friends and acquaintances with smaller bonfire evenings or barbecues in the home garden or in nature. Even today, St. John's Day is one of the most important holidays of the year for Estonians, which is also celebrated more often than others when abroad.