Okay, Okay, half the year is already over... Can you believe it? The Feast of St John more often than not coincides with the June solstice also referred to as Midsummer. Fire is the most typical element associated with the Saint John's Eve celebration, when bonfires are lit to express joy. It is a very old pagan tradition in which one was supposed to leap over the fire to keep evil at bay... These photos of the festivities outside Saint-Louis cathedral weren't taken by VDP last week because she was busy elsewhere (more about that to come) but their author said they were up for grabs and VDP thought hey... fantastic for Theme Day! VDP's thanks to the author, Atelier Choco Turquoise, who has been featured on this blog last December: it was here. To view all Theme Day participants, click here! Happy July everyone!
La moitié de l'année est passée, vous le croyez, vous ? Le premier du mois est jour de thème dans la communauté mondiale des blogueurs City Daily Photo. Pour ce mois de juillet, le thème est "célébration de l'été". La fête de la Saint-Jean, traditionnellement accompagnée de grands feux de joie, est la fête de Jean le Baptiste, le 24 juin. C'est une vieille tradition païenne au cours de laquelle il fallait sauter par-dessus le feu pour éloigner maléfices et impuretés. Ces photos du feu sur le parvis de la cathédrale Saint-Louis n'ont pas été prises par VDP la semaine dernière parce qu'elle était occupée ailleurs (à venir sur le blog !) mais leur auteur me les a proposées et franchement, ça ne pouvait mieux tomber ! Elles sont l’œuvre de l'Atelier Choco Turquoise, dont VDP vous avait montré les jolies créations en décembre dernier, c'était ici. Retrouvez également l'atelier sur Facebook ! Merci mille fois ! Pour voir tous les participants du monde entier, c'est par là. Bon mois de juillet à toutes et tous !
31 comments:
superbe événement, ca devait etre impressionnant (surtout les cracheurs de feux, ca m'a toujours subjugué )
A beautiful pair of shots from your friend. I've seen that day marked in another blog as well.
Great celebration! I love the bond fire idea but, we can't do that here in Arizona. It's far too hot and dry here for fires. Fun shots!
Great summer theme shots.
Sydney – City and Suburbs
I'm sure the powers that be would think there are liability problems with such a fire over here! Looks like fun to me!
I think if one could jump the fire and live than for sure evil will stay away.
Sorry about being early but I figured I would forget and then be LATE!!
MB
That was one hot party!!!
Well, another theme day got by me, blissfully unaware. We have no equivalent of this in the US, except that every day is a pagan festival in certain quarters.
Fascinating. In New Orleans the bonfire is used to celebrate the winter solstice. Controlling fire must have been a monumental feat to early man.
very atmospheric images... soon be Christmas ;-)
Very much like how we celebrate Valborgsmässoafton. Sounds and looks great.
Just the way I spend all by summer days... fire breathing !
I love a summer bonfire. Usually we sit around them and roast marshmallows, though. Jumping over the ones in your friend's photos sounds a tad risky.
lol, not nowadays! It was a common medieval and renaissance thingy, maybe later, I'm not sure. Not nowadays, at least I don't think so and hope not!
A very HOT post! :-) In Lisbon people used to do it (and jumpo over) on St. Anthony's Day (June 13), but I don't know if the tradition is already lost or not.
Don't think I'd try to hop across that fire. Pagan traditions are always fascinating.
I loved the photos and especially the text. So interesting. Part of the fun of these CDP's is learning about the world and our traditions.
Thank you for visiting Greensboro Daily Photo. You and I joined the CDP community about the same time and it is always a treat to hear from you.
a perfect illustration of summer celebration
I can't remember the last time I was at a bonfire Ciel, looks so much fun.. So good to have these shots available to you.. Am intrigued to know what you've been up to :)
that would be really neat to see!
What a coincidence!!!!
Excellent choice for the theme day, love it!
;-D
I love this for the theme day! The pictures are great, this must have been a fun event. Hopefully you can make it next year. :)
You guys don't mess around, that's a huge fire!
I really do not like to celebrate summer, but your pictures are spectacular!
Love this! This is a real celebration in the making. You enjoy your July too :).
Thanks for visiting! I did have a little difficulty sorting out the 'City Daily Photo' site, but I'll see if I can become a member. Meanwhile guess where we're going to be on Saturday - Versailles! The garden at least....
Superbe! Immolons l'hiver par le feu!
They light fires for St John here too. Strange how some traditions never die.
We used to have fires like this (which we called bonfires) as part of our Independence Day celebrations, along with fireworks, but they now are thought to be too dangerous and ecologically unfriendly, so fireworks alone carry the celebration.
Interesting post and terrific fire photos.
V
It is amazing that bonfires are lit in Paris. Here, outdoor fires are against the law inside the city. C'est la vie!
Post a Comment