Agausian Summer Spirit Festival (Day of St. John the Baptist)

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The Agausian Summer Spirit Festival (Agausian: Šua Zapkulis Suli Zeimi), colloquially know as Day of St. John the Baptist (Agausian: Ióne Natlismtsëmlis Ǵe) is a traditional Agausian holiday that is celebrated on the shortest night of the year, which is on 21-22 or 23-24 of June and in Eastern Slavic countries according to traditional Julian calendar on the night between 6 to 7 July.

The celebration relates to the summer solstice when nights are the shortest and includes a major feast day it is also celebrated with an All-Night Vigil. It has an Afterfeast of one day. This celebration should not be confused with Ivan Kupala Day, which is not celebrated widely in Agausia.

History and folklore [back to contents]

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The Agausian Summer Spirit Festival's origin predates Christianity. Pre-Christian Agausian tribes were poloytheistic and pagan-like in nature. These early Agausians believed that during the night the spirits would fight a giant serpent which feasted on moon and star light.

The belief was that if the serpent was successful at devouring the moon and the stars, then the spirt world would open, and the dark spirts would be able to roam the ever-dark earth in peace. Tradition says that dark spirits were unable to live in the light, and even the smallest glimmer of moon or star light had the power to vanquish them.

On the night of the summer solstice, the shortest night of the year, a grand feast was held for the light spirits, those who protected the earth. The light spirits, who usually rested during the day, were able to partake in the feasts before engaging in a short night of combat.

Agausians would feast and dance all night around large fires. They drank wine and ate sweets and breads; fertility rituals were also common. Virgin girls and unmarried women made woven flower crowns and bathed naked long into the night. It was belief that the water spirts would visit the women during their baths and bestow blessings of fertility.

In Elijah Zhalgonia's Night of the Serpent it depicts the spirits protecting against the serpent who is attempting to devour all light to release the dark spirits.

In the IV century AD, the day of the birth of John the Baptist was proclaimed- the forerunner of Jesus Christ. As a result of the christianization the heathen holiday, known as the summer spirit festival, gradually got connected with St. John the Baptist.

Celebration and customs [back to contents]

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The Day of St. John the Baptist is not considered a public holiday, and government institutions and business remain open and functioning. Agausia Students do not attend school on this day, since the last Friday in May marks the end of the school year. Parliamentary MPs also do not convene on this day, since MPs last day before summer recess is the second Friday in June.

Despite being an official Christian holiday, the Agausian Summer Spirit Festival is also celebrated in secular ways by Agausians of all walks of life and belief systems.

This day is still celebrated by a day of feasting. Families all over Agausia get together early in the day for prayer and preparation for the night long feast. Traditional dishes: including breads sweets and Ṕat́aratsëveti, a traditional plum and citrus wine, are consumed.

Due to the festival's original connection with fertility the Day of St. John the Baptist has become the most popular date in Agausia to get married. Brides who get married on this day often still wear a flower crown and are promised long successful lives. Brides usually marry during the day in order to have a grand reception long into the night.

Water is still an important element for the celebration, and many families will have celebrations and pray near rivers or lakes.

As the day turns into night the feasts and celebrations begin. Families usually perform prayers before they begin celebrating. The celebration is also celebrated with an All-Night Vigil. It has an Afterfeast of one day, but unlike other Great Feasts celebrated by the Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic Churches, this day has no Days of Forefeast.

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