Midsummer Lore: Street Parties and St John's Wort

Tomorrow, June 24th, is traditionally Midsummer’s Day and was once among the most widely celebrated festivals in England. Modern pagans put more emphasis on the Summer Solstice, on June 21st, but according to Steve Roud in The English Year: 

“…from the time of the earliest records, midsummer in in England was celebrated with bonfires, processions and parades, and by decorating houses and churches with greenery.”

In Christian terms, June 24th was also the feast day of St John. Steve Roud also points out that the time from St John’s Eve on the 23rd right up to St Peter’s Day on June 29th was something of a holiday. John Stow, writing in the 1590s, described London during those days as being filled with street parties. People set out tables for all the neighbours to feast, drink, and have fun together. 

Bonfires would be lit as part of the festivities, but also because it was thought fires would clear the air of any malignancy. Stow also describes various herbs and flowers that were traditionally hung over doorways on St John’s Eve:

“…every man’s door being shadowed with green birch, long fennel, St John’s wort, orpin, white lilies…garnished upon with beautiful flowers.”

He also mentions the streets being hung with lamps that were kept alight late into the night.

St John’s wort

Historically, St John’s Day was when it was particularly customary to gather St John’s Wort. This herb with yellow flowers has long been seen as a means to keep evil away magically and as well a  herbal remedy. From at least medieval times it’s been hung over doors and windows to keep away malefic spirits. In some areas, the flowers were traditionally dipped in a bowl of water and left outside exposed to the night until the following morning, when people washed their faces in the flower dew.

You can see St John’s Wort in the photo at the top.

More seasonal lore

My book Rounding the Wheel of the Year offers more ways to acknowledge and celebrate the seasons in magic, folklore and nature. 

You can view Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon, find it at esoteric bookshops or via my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year

(Please note: I earn commission from some links.)

Previous related posts

https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/customs-summerween-festival-or-fakelore.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/05/folklore-customs-bromleys-broom-day.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/06/collecting-magical-herbs-on-st-johns.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2015/07/pagan-eye-echinacea-flowers-in-bloom.html

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