Burning bonfires on Midsummer’s Eve has been a tradition in the Nordics for many hundreds of years. Not everyone has large, professional pallet bonfires like the Slinningsbålet in Ålesund, but in many nooks and crannies in Norway bonfires are central to Midsummer celebrations. This is midsummer It’s easy to get confused about the solstice, Midsummer, Midsummer and Midsummer. Here’s a quick overview: The summer solstice occurs between June 20 and 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the longest day of the year. Sankthans and Jonsok are two names for 24 June. Midsummer’s Eve is 23 June. Jonsok comes from the Norse jónsvaka, which means “vigil for Jon”. Jon is here an abbreviation for Johannes. For Christians, Midsummer is an originally Catholic feast day commemorating the birthday of John the Baptist. St. John’s Night has long been linked to superstition. It was believed to be one of the witches’ main parties. The tradition of bonfires on Midsummer is described as early as the 13th century. The bonfire was supposed to both protect against evil forces and have a social function where people gathered to dance. Swedish midsummer has been added to the Saturday closest to Midsummer, and can end up between 20 and 26 June. In Norway, 14 July used to be considered midsummer, but now it is used for the entire period from Midsummer to mid-July. Source: Store norske lexikon Sunday is Midsummer’s Eve again, and many people have started to collect flammable material for the bonfires. Fears for wildlife There is a general fire ban in Norway between 15 April and 15 September. You can still apply to the municipality for permission to burn a Midsummer bonfire. Is there a Midsummer bonfire in your municipality this year? Yes No Don’t know Show result But even if you have permission to light a fire, there are several things you should think about before you light a fire. Animal Protection Norway fears that many wildlife may be lost in bonfires on Midsummer’s Eve. Sankthansbål in Drøbak in 2018. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB – The bonfires are often built days and weeks in advance. Animals such as birds and cats with litters can find shelter among the wood, points out communications manager Martin Aasen Wright. Mice, reptiles and hedgehogs can also seek shelter in a piled fire. Build a bonfire on the same day Veterinarian Hanne Svenningsen in Animal Protection Norway believes the most effective measure to avoid burning animals on the bonfire is to build the bonfire on the same day it is to be lit. Veterinarian Hanne Svenningsen in a press photo. Photo: Marcel Leliënhof / Animal Protection Norway – If it’s not that big, you can of course also move it on the day you set the fire on fire. Then small rodents and the like will have the opportunity to get out, she says. But if the fire has to be built several days in advance, she suggests setting up a tight fence of canvas around the fire. – It can be effective in preventing amphibians and reptiles from getting to the material. Many of these species live in coastal areas and by water, where bonfires are carried out, says the veterinarian. – If you are worried about larger species, such as hedgehogs, chicken netting can be effective. Small rodents, on the other hand, are more difficult to stop, she points out. Plan and check The substrate can affect how tempting it is for small animals to use the fire as a home. Veterinarian Svenningsen states that it is less likely that animals will seek refuge in fires built on hard ground. Midsummer bonfire on hard ground on Nesodden in Akershus midsummer 2015. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Soil, grass, leaves and the like are more tempting for many. – Just before ignition, you must of course do a check. If you see animals, they must be carefully taken out, she says. Svenningsen also emphasizes the importance of cleaning up after the fire has burned down. This is to prevent the animals from injuring themselves on leftovers. Move the fire The Danish Animal Protection has also issued a similar warning before Midsummer this year. “Don’t burn the animals alive on the Midsummer bonfire” is the title of their press release. If you don’t move the fire, “it can be a terrible death for many animals”, they write. Sankthans bonfire on the Oslofjord near Bjørvika on 23 June 2022. Here it was most likely only birds that could reach the bonfire. Photo: NTB – The animals are experts at hiding, so you easily overlook them. If it’s baby animals, they probably can’t move because they’re too small, says biologist Michael Carlsen at Animal Protection. He therefore believes that it does not help to just rustle the twigs, but that you actually have to take the fire apart and build it up in a slightly different place. Little forest fire risk Last year it was dry before Midsummer, and the permits for bonfires were withdrawn in large parts of Eastern Norway. This year, there is little or no risk of forest fire on Sunday in most of Norway. The exception is some areas in Inlandet and in Troms where, according to the Forest Fire Hazard Index, there is some risk of forest fire. Watch for forest fire warnings and follow the advice of your local fire service before you consider lighting a fire. Read tips from the Fire Protection Association for a safe bonfire on Midsummer’s Eve here. Published 22.06.2024, at 09.52
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