Midsummer (Norwegian: midtsommer; Swedish: midsommar; Finnish: keskikesä) is a Northern Hemisphere tradition that spread through Northern Europe to the Americas. Though the origins of this celebration date to pre-Christian summer solstice festivals, it survived the Christianization of Europe in the form of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, established in the 4th Century CE to celebrate his birth. (This date was chosen to align with the established birthday of Jesus, December 25th; according to Biblical lore, John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus.) 

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Scandinavian immigrants to our region brought Midsummer Eve celebrations with them. This is a celebration that has endured up to the present day, both in Scandinavia and in the Scandinavian diaspora worldwide, particularly the United States.