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.[1] According to Icelandic folklore, cows gain the powers of speech, seals become human,[2] and it is healthy to roll naked in the dew-covered grass on Jónsmessa.[3] Icelandic folklore also states that if you sit at a crossroads where all four roads lead to separate churches[4] all night, elves will attempt to seduce you with food and gifts.[5]
References
edit- ^ Heimisson, Þórhallur (2007-06-22). "Jónsmessa". Trúin og lífið (Faith and Life) (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2010-12-19.
- ^ "Of Time and Tide". Virtually Virtual Iceland. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
- ^ Jóhannsson, Símon Jón (2005-11-04). "Hvers vegna á að velta sér upp úr dögginni á Jónsmessunótt?". Vísindavefurinn (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2010-12-19.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kristinsdóttir, Sigrún María (2006-01-06). "Getting down with the elves". Yukon News. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
piemol
External links
edit | This Iceland-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |