A bonfire is lit during the Midsummer Eve celebration on Seurasaari Island in Helsinki, Finland, June 20, 2025. Thousands gathered on Helsinki's Seurasaari Island Friday evening to celebrate Juhannus Eve, marking the start of Finland's cherished Midsummer Festival with bonfires and folk traditions. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)
HELSINKI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Thousands gathered on Helsinki's Seurasaari Island Friday evening to celebrate Juhannus Eve, marking the start of Finland's cherished Midsummer Festival with bonfires and folk traditions.
Held at the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, the event recreated countryside-style celebrations for locals and visitors.
Festivities began at around 6:30 p.m. local time with the raising of a maypole adorned with ribbons and greenery, a symbol of fertility and renewal. Throughout the evening, the crowd enjoy folk dancing, wreath-making, stilt walking, Finnish delicacies, and local crafts.
At dusk, several ceremonial bonfires were lit along the shore. Music and laughter continue late into the night.
"Juhannus is about light, nature, and togetherness," said festivalgoer Miikka Heikinen. "It's the heart of the Finnish summer."
Midsummer, officially observed on the Saturday between June 20 and 26, marks the longest day of the year. In northern Finland, the sun barely sets, while the south experiences only brief twilight.
The Seurasaari Midsummer celebration dates back over a century and has been organized annually since 1956.
Beyond Seurasaari, Helsinki offers additional Juhannus events, from nostalgic dance nights to scenic ferry rides and traditional saunas. Yet for many, the holiday is best spent at lakeside cottages, savoring nature and the glow of the midnight sun. ■
Performers dressed in traditional Finnish costumes perform a folk dance during the Midsummer Eve celebration on Seurasaari Island in Helsinki, Finland, June 20, 2025. Thousands gathered on Helsinki's Seurasaari Island Friday evening to celebrate Juhannus Eve, marking the start of Finland's cherished Midsummer Festival with bonfires and folk traditions. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)
People dressed in traditional Finnish costumes pose for photos during the Midsummer Eve celebration on Seurasaari Island in Helsinki, Finland, June 20, 2025. Thousands gathered on Helsinki's Seurasaari Island Friday evening to celebrate Juhannus Eve, marking the start of Finland's cherished Midsummer Festival with bonfires and folk traditions. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)
Performers dressed in traditional Finnish costumes sing songs accompanied by live instruments during the Midsummer Eve celebration on Seurasaari Island in Helsinki, Finland, June 20, 2025. Thousands gathered on Helsinki's Seurasaari Island Friday evening to celebrate Juhannus Eve, marking the start of Finland's cherished Midsummer Festival with bonfires and folk traditions. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)
A maypole adorned with ribbons and greenery, a symbol of fertility and renewal, is raised during the Midsummer Eve celebration on Seurasaari Island in Helsinki, Finland, June 20, 2025. Thousands gathered on Helsinki's Seurasaari Island Friday evening to celebrate Juhannus Eve, marking the start of Finland's cherished Midsummer Festival with bonfires and folk traditions. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)
