Midsummer Eve (Juhannusaatto) in Finland is often considered more important than Midsummer Day itself. Families and friends gather at summer cottages for saunas, bonfires and midnight sun festivities, blending ancient folk rituals with modern summer traditions.

When is Midsummer Eve?

Midsummer Eve in Finland is celebrated on the Friday between June 19 and 25.

The following is the list of Midsummer Eve from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Midsummer Eve?

In pre-Christian Finland, the summer solstice was celebrated with bonfires, rituals, and gatherings on the eve of the longest day of the year.

It was believed that Midsummer Eve held magical powers: spirits were closer, crops could be blessed, and young people performed love and fertility divinations such as placing seven flowers under a pillow to dream of a future spouse. Bonfires (kokko) were lit near lakes and fields to protect communities from evil spirits and bring good fortune.

From the 12th century onward, the solstice festival became tied to the feast of St. John the Baptist, with the Finnish name Juhannus deriving from Johannes.

The church adopted the date but folk customs continued, keeping the strong link to nature and the magical symbolism of the shortest night.

By the 19th century, Midsummer Eve had become a popular day for weddings, dances, and community celebrations, especially in rural Finland.

After independence in 1917, Midsummer took on added importance as a celebration of Finnish identity and rural traditions.

In 1955, Finland fixed Midsummer celebrations to the Saturday between June 20 and 26, making Friday evening (Midsummer Eve) the main time for festivities.

Today, Midsummer Eve is widely regarded as more important than Midsummer Day itself. The nightless light in northern Finland makes Midsummer Eve especially magical, reinforcing its role as a celebration of light, nature, and Finnish culture.