ocht An Meitheamh, De' Mairt,( 8 June, Tuesday), or in Breton, eizh Mezheven, Dimeurzh In 1287 the Revolt of Rhys ap Meredudd, Wales began. In 1333 Edward III of England ordered the seizure of the Isle of Mann from the Scots. More on Midsummers Eve courtesy of a niece of mine. This feast also is known as St. John's Eve, the 24th being the feast of St. John the Baptist. Bonfires are part of this celebration. In Medieval times the people used the fires to ward of evil spirits and some jumped through them for good luck. Others would roam from fire to fire in garland -bedecked bands. Many people stayed up all night. Of course being in a rather northern clime the sun rose early. Next to Halloween this was the second most important night for the wee people. To see the wee people one was supposed to gather fern seed and at the stroke of midnight, rub it in your eyelids. But just to be save one should carry a little rue in one's pocket ( I know where there is a patch if it up on the Blue Ridge Mountain in West Virginia). Decorating the front door with birch, fennel, St. Johns wort, orpin or lilies was a custom also.( I have some wild St. John's wort in the garden). In Irish legend Midsummer was the when the first battle between the Fir Bolgs and the Tuatha De Danaan. The thing I like about these old semi forgotten events is that Hallmark doesn't sell cards for them and the folks down at the Mall don't have any sales to commemorate them. What a relief!! As for me I just like to stand by the dying embers of the bonfire with a cold beer looking up the summer constellations.