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Jónsmessa (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjounsˌmɛsːa]; lit. 'John's Mass'), also known as Midsummer Night, is an Icelandic holiday celebrated on June 24 and named after John the Baptist. According to Icelandic folklore, cows gain the powers of speech, seals become human, and it is healthy to roll naked in the dew-covered grass on Jónsmessa. Icelandic folklore also states that if you sit at a crossroads where all four roads lead to separate churches all night, elves will attempt to seduce you with food and gifts.

References

1. Heimisson, Þórhallur (2007-06-22). "Jónsmessa". Trúin og lífið (Faith and Life) (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2010-12-19.
2. "Of Time and Tide". Virtually Virtual Iceland. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
3. Jóhannsson, Símon Jón (2005-11-04). "Hvers vegna á að velta sér upp úr dögginni á Jónsmessunótt?". Vísindavefurinn (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2010-12-19.
4. Árnason, Jón (2003). LinkÍslenzkar þjóðsögur og ævintýri / safnað hefur Jón Árnason ; Árni Böðvarsson og Bjarni Vilhjálmsson önnuðust útgáfuna. Reykjavík: Þjóðsaga. ISBN 9979-3-2474-0.
5. Kristinsdóttir, Sigrún María (2006-01-06). "Getting down with the elves". Yukon News. Retrieved 2010-12-19.

piemol

External links

• "My Iceland: Midsummer Night", Iceland Weather Report, JUNE 23, 2008

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