Johannesfeuer

02 July 2004 17:41 blondelibrarian germany, holidays & special occasions, photos

Last Saturday night, our little town celebrated Johannesfeuer with a bonfire. Interestingly enough, many other places in the northern hemisphere were celebrating the summer solstice the same weekend.

Seeing that the Catholic Youth League in town was sponsoring the bonfire, I came to the conclusion that Johannesfeuer must not have just been a summer solstice celebration, but one with Catholic overtones. After a little research, I discovered that my hunch was right. Like many other Catholic festivals, this one is celebrated during a time that pagans also find significant.

One thing that has always bugged me about Catholicism (and Christianity in general) is their habit to take festivals that were/are significant to pagans and with a little “creative accounting” make them their own. I suppose in the past this was a semi-effective way to “convert” the masses. Since the masses were celebrating anyway I guess it was a perfect opportunity for the Church to tell them that what they thought they were celebrating was in actuality something else.

Since I am not religious the bonfire had absolutely no significance to me other than it was a pretty spectacle. And judging from the amount of beer being consumed by the people in predominantly Catholic Bavaria, I would say that maybe the Johannesfeuer has lost some of the religious significance on them too.

Johannesfeuer

3 Responses

  1. SB Says:
    04 July 2004 at 16:18

    Hi!

    First of all - great site!
    One little correction - there’s no direct link between the Johannesfeuer or Sonnwend-Feiern and pagan Germanic rites! This connections where made by the Nazis. The most “parties” of such kind where founded by the church at the and of the middle ages or the begin of our era. Sometimes even in the baroque (key word: Gegenreformation).

    Greatings from
    Swabia
    SB

    PS.: Excuse my bad English!

  2. Greg Says:
    05 July 2004 at 14:08

    You are correct in Your believe that Johannesfeuer was originally a Pagan ritiual.As far as alcohol being consumed well that is purely a American hang up.

  3. SB Says:
    05 July 2004 at 20:51

    Programmheft des “Bergischen Freilichtmuseums” in Lindlar: “Nachweisbare Spuren hat der Johannistag erst ab dem 15. Jahrhundert in Europa hinterlassen. Seitdem sind etwa in s?ddeutschen St?dten Johannisfeuer belegt. Wie stark Feier, Feuer und Frohsinn im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert in Deutschland, aber auch in Nord- und Westeuropa verbreitet waren, geht vor allem aus Verboten von Staat und Kirche hervor. 1762 wird etwa das Johannisfeuer von der Regierung J?lich-Kleve untersagt. Furcht vor Aberglauben sind der Grund daf?r.”

    True is, there is no direct link between the Johannesfeuer and pangismen - only a “light” link of “hidden” pangism of the countryfolk. Because the 1. Reich and her Kaisers and Princes where all “good” catholic and fight against such pagan rits. And I don’t sink you can burn such a great fire unnoticed from the church and after 1300 the Inquisition :-O