Jaanipäev

Jaanipäev (literally, 'John's day') or leedopäev (literally, 'fire day') is the longest celebrated public holiday and one of the most important summer holidays in the Estonian folk calendar. It corresponds to English Midsummer Day.

On jaaniõhtu (literally, 'John's evening', the night before jaanipäev), Estonians gather with their families and friends or at larger (often public) events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing, drinking and eating, and lighting bonfires, as has been the tradition for centuries. Jaanipäev is arguably the most important holiday, more important than Christmas in the yearly calendar for Estonians.

As the Estonian Open Air Museum describes it, "this is a time when nature is full of power and thousands of bonfires are set on fire throughout the country to celebrate the beginning of summer and ensure good luck".