Putnam patriot., 1930-06-26
ST. JOHNS DAY OR
 SUMMER SOLSTICE
Longest Day and Shortest Night
 is the 11th Day of June
Dance Around Fires on St. John's
 Eve

Eve
 The celebration of the first day of the new year runs back to antiquity, being observed by all races of which We have knowledge at the seasons when their respective new years be- gin, for even primitive man was solicitous to begin the new year well The most ancient of all on record is the beginning of the new year on the Summer Solstice which is June twentv-fourth-St Johns Day.
 St. Barnabas' Day
 The longest day and the shortest night Is the eleventh of June. By our almanacs the days appear to remain the same length until the twenty fifth when a decrease is noted.
 This Barnaby day, or thereabout, is the Summer Solstice or Sun-sted, when the sun seems to stand, and be- gins to go back, being the longest day in the year, about the llth or 18th of June; 1t is taken for the whole time. when the days appear not for fourteen days together either to lengthen or shorten.
 June 24th is the day set apart by the Christian Church for the nativity O. St. John the Baptist; it is also Mid summer Day on which the pagan rites of the festival of the summer solstice were celebrated in heather times. ] Consequently the practices of these two festivals are euriously mixed. The observances connected with the nativ- l ity of St. John commenced on the ] previous evening. Until about 1868 ] there was a custom in England and the Continent to arise early and go Co the woods for branches of trees, which they brought to their homes and churches amidst joyous demons trations Co carry out the Scripture l prophecy respecting the birth of John the Baptist. To drive away witches. bough. hallowed on Midsummer Day, were hung at the stall door where the ] cattle stood. In Magdalen College in Oxford. England. a permanent pulpit of stone is inserted into a corner of the first quadrangle. This pulpit was used few years ago (and doubtless is used nowl on St. Johns Day fenc- ed around with green boughs, that the preaching might more nearly re- semble that of John the Baptist in the wilderness.
 kindle Fires
 It was customary in England and 1 on the Continent Co kindle fires on l St. Johns eve. around which the 1 people danced and played. the men and boys occasionally jumping l through 1t. In the Sacred History of the Jews in II Kings IF "and they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and entertainments, and sold themselves to do evil"
 The origin of the fire to some ex- tent is enveloped in the mist of antiquity. 1t was a lieu do joie," kindled the very moment the year be- gan: for the first os all years and the most ancient began at this month of June. Thence the name of this month, junior. the youngest, which is renew ed; while that of the preceding one May. major, the ancient. These fires were accompanied at the same time with VOWS and sacrifices for the pros perity of the people and the fruit of the earth. Each on departing took away a fire brand and the remains were scattered to the winds, think ing the ashes would expel every evil as would the fern seed if gathered that day. '1 had"
 No medicine. Sir. to go invisible No Fern-seed in my pocket"
 In some towns a watch was kept walking about all Mid Summer night. At one Mid Summer Night in the Middle ages London kept a watch of two thousand men. parading. carry ing torches on tops of long poles.
 Among the superstitions connected with St. Johns Eve was the belief that the souls of all people on this night leave their bodies and wander to the place, by land or sea, where death shall finally separate them from the tenement of clay.
 Magical Properties
 It was customary to gather certain plants, which 1t was thought would make them invisible. Among them were St. Johns wort, vervain or pine and trefoil-all supposed to have magical properties if gathered at night. The garlands and branches set up on the eve or Vigil of St. Johns Day were supposed to have the virtue in averting thunder, tempest, and all kinds of physical discomforts to men and beasts.
 Here in Putnam on St. Johns Sun day, June twenty-second, the Masonic Order will attend Divine service and in lareer cities with bands of music followed by beautiful white plumed hats and the crosses of St John will St. Johns day be observed.