Midsummer celebrations vary a great deal.
In the Sakha Republic, they tie a horse to a pole and dance around it, or bet on reindeer races.
In Portugal, you can hit your neighbour on the head with a plastic hammer, which amusing habit I think should be much more widely practised generally.
In Norway children are formally married off in symbolic, non-binding ceremonies.
In Australia, a female kangaroo is chosen as Summer’s Bride and crowned with eucalyptus leaves and chicken bones.
In Sweden they dance in the style of frogs around a phallic object.
In Latvia they run naked through the streets at 3am.
More general customs include bonfires and the jumping over of bonfires, gathering flowers to wear or strew upon the water, collecting dew to wash with or drink, singing, dancing….
…..and hunting for the magical fern-seed, that blossoms only at the…
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