FÊTE DE LA SAINT-JEAN

Midsummer Night's Eve celebrates the summer solstice. A very popular festival. Family and friends gather in the early evening for an open-air buffet. Everyone waits for the sun to set (around midnight), singing and celebrating the return of summer around large bonfires. These bonfires were originally lit to guide the return of the sun. Finally, tradition dictates that people do not sleep until sunrise (at about 3am) to ensure that the sun will return.