Saint Jean's Day

Continuing an ancient custom of celebrating the summer solstice, the Church has set June 24 as the date for the birth of John the Baptist, the central biblical figure and herald of the Messiah, whose testimony makes much of light and the Holy Spirit. So, on the longest day of the year, bonfires are lit to prolong the radiance of the radiant star well into the night, which for Christians marks the victory of Christ the Light over darkness. This day in Monaco there's a Saint Jean's bonfire and folk dancing.