The 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
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The Baltic Nations:
St. John's Day Celebration
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One of the largest holiday festivals in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania is St. John's Day which celebrates the summer solstice. Traditionally, the evening festivities last the entire night. During this celebration men wear crowns of oak leaves and women put on wreaths of wild flowers. A bonfire is built, around which the nights activities take place.

This year's Festival presented a variety of St. John's Day traditions on the Mall, including wreath making, a bonfire, and dancing.

Wreath making
Latvian participants making wreaths and garlands of oak leaves.
Photo by Lee Bickerstaff

Richard Kurin
Richard Kurin is presented with gifts from the three Baltic Nations.
Here he is being offered a loaf of Latvian rye bread.
Photo by Hugh Talman

John's bread
All men named John are offered a special bread in honor of John's Day.
Photo by Hugh Talman

Bonfire
A bonfire is lit in celebration of St. John's Day.
Photo by Hugh Talman

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