John's, EVE OF ST,

John's, EVE OF ST, one of the most joyous festivals of Christendom during the middle ages, celebrated on midsummer eve. From the account given of it by Grimm in his Deutsche Mythologie it would appear to have been observed with similar rites in every country of Europe. Fires were kindled chiefly in the streets and market-places of the towns; sometimes they were blessed by the parish priest, but, as a rule, they were secular in their character. The young people leaped over the flames, or threw flowers and garlands into them, with merry shoutings, songs, and dances. In England the people on the Eve of St John's went into the woods and broke down branches of trees, which they brought to their homes and planted over their doors, to make good the prophecy respecting the Baptist, that many should rejoice in his birth. It was a lingering belief of the Irish peasantry that the souls of all people on this night leave their bodies, and wander to their ultimate place of death by land or sea—a notion that may throw light on the widespread custom of watching or sitting up awake on St John's eve. In England it was believed that if any one sat up fasting all night in the church porch he would see the spirits of those who were to die in the parish during the ensuing twelve months come and knock at the church door in the order and succession in which they were to die.