Jónsmessa
Icelandic midsummer holiday
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jónsmessa (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjounsˌmɛsːa]; lit. 'John's Mass'), also known as Midsummer Night, is an Icelandic holiday celebrated on June 24 and named after John the Baptist.[1] According to Icelandic folklore, cows gain the powers of speech, seals become human,[2] and it is healthy to roll naked in the dew-covered grass on Jónsmessa.[3] Icelandic folklore also states that if you sit at a crossroads where all four roads lead to separate churches[4] all night, elves will attempt to seduce you with food and gifts.[5]
