St. John’s Eve and Midsummer

St. John’s Day is a Voodoo high holiday based on the celebration of the Christian Saint, John the Baptist.

There appears to be a common misconception that the Voodoo holiday, St. John’s Day is based on the Pagan holiday of Midsummer or Litha. It’s understandable how this would happen because the two holidays occur within days of each other. The summer solstice usually is within a couple of days of June 21.

June 24th is St. John the Baptist’s birthday and a high Voodoo holiday. John is considered to be the greatest prophet, in the Judeo-Christian tradition. He was Jesus’ cousin who preached and baptized people.

When I wrote Vooduon, Voodoo, Hoodoo, I explained what a syncretic religion is. It’s a blend of Pagan and Orthodox religions. Voodoo is a mix of the Shamanic religion of the African Yorubas and Catholicism, not of the Yoruban religion and Western European Paganism. The slaves’ Loas, Voodoo deities, were worshipped as Christian saints in order for the celebrants to avoid punishment, including death, for practicing their Old Religion.

When I wrote St. John's Day & the Marie Laveaus, it was about the holiday and Marie Laveau I’s and II’s roles as the Supreme Voodoo Queen and how Voodoo ceremonies combine Pagan rites as well as Catholic ones, including the sacrament of baptism.

Pagan Midsummer: Summer Solstice is about the celebration of Litha. Sabbats: Pagan Fire Festivals gives a brief description of the eight Sabbats with links to each. Finally, Pagan Midsummer: Flowers, Crystals of these plants and stones for the entire summer season. With all of the research I have done, I have found no mention of Christian Saints being celebrated in Pagan Sabbats, as they are in syncretic religions.