June 23 2026
The story of the bonfire and the witch
Saint Hans is named after John the Baptist (Saint John, Saint Hans), whose birthday is on June 24. Christianity has thus adopted the pagan tradition in the same way as Christmas, which was previously a celebration of the winter solstice. Many people associate Saint Hans with the witch at the bonfire, but in fact this tradition is much younger than most people think. The Midsummer bonfire itself originates from old Nordic customs, where people lit bonfires to mark the summer solstice and to protect themselves from evil. In folk belief, it was believed that witches, trolls and other dark forces were particularly active around midsummer, and the flames of the bonfire were therefore supposed to scare them away. The witch at the bonfire first became part of the Saint Hans celebration in Denmark in the late 19th century. The tradition probably came here from Germany gradually spread across the country. Therefore, the witch doll is actually only about 100-150 years old. It is important to emphasize that the tradition is not a continuation or celebration of the real witch burnings that took place in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, people – mainly women – were accused of witchcraft and in many cases sentenced to death. Historians point out that the St. Hansel witch is a symbol from folk beliefs (witches, trolls and dark forces) and has no connection to the historical executions. Today, St. Hansel is primarily about community, midsummer songs, bonfire speeches and cozy moments with family, friends and neighbors. |