Jonas, who lives in chaos, invites the Lithuanians to stop: everyone is running somewhere, but not all the work will be done.

Jonas and Janinas would not be able to hide from exclusive attention on that day. But a night by the campfire, rafting in the grass crowns and fun company are the most amazing fern flowers.

Jonas Dumša, the head of the Union of People with Disabilities of the Panevėžys region, smiles saying that only the closest people remember his birthday, and even those who know little greet him with the name of the day.

“We often forget to congratulate on a birthday, but never on a birthday. This is the biggest advantage of this name. An acquaintance called his son John jokingly that he should celebrate the shortest summer night with whom. It is good that the tradition of giving Lithuanian names to children is coming to life, ”said the namesake.

Jonas, the only one in the family, reveals that Ona’s tradition is alive in his extended family: his mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and several other women in the family have received this name. Born into a family of twelve children, J. Dumša joined the ranks of famous nomenclatures.

“It just came to our attention then. As the third child Jonas is in the fairy tales, I am the sixth child and I am still Jonas,” laughs the resident of Panevėžys.

Longing for a quiet vacation

J. Dumša’s experience shows that Joninė rarely lacks rain. The owner of a unique name never has a clear plan to celebrate San Juan. Trying to attend a different event every year.

“A couple of years ago I had to participate in the festival of ethnic traditions and extreme music” Kilkim žaibu “. The participants of the festival, who ran through the hot coals, offered to join me too, but I did not dare, because the rubber wheels of the wheelchair would not have survived, “laughs Jonas.

This year you would like a calm and cozy St. John’s wort. On the eve of the festival, he plans to participate in a virtual Olympic Day race and, at night, visit the city’s Summer Festival.

“I would very much like a quiet Joniniai, because lately I have been living in chaos. Everyone is afraid of the second wave of coronavirus, somewhere in a hurry, running away, but not all the work will be done. We want people to stop at least during Jonines and just enjoy this day, “said J. Dumša.

Escape to nature

Krekenava forester Jonas Leika, named after a famous name, has already invited family members to visit the guests through Jonines. This year, a double celebration awaits him, not only on the day of his name, but also on the first birthday of his grandson Vitautas. The ranger says he doesn’t like big vacations, he always escapes into nature through Jonines. And they don’t follow the Ionian traditions: they always improvise, depending on the weather, the mood, the company and the health.

“Every year our St. John’s Day is different. Sometimes in the woods, sometimes by the lake or in the backyard of his own house, but very rarely at the table. There is a table, but we hardly ever sit down at his side. We gather around the campfire more, “said the ranger.

And Jonines has been celebrating since the first year. The remains of childhood remain in the haystacks with other rural children. He also jumped on bonfires in his youth, but so far J. Leika tries not to fall asleep during the shortest night until he meets the sun.

“I myself come from a family where traditions are highly respected, and I was the only John in town, so I couldn’t escape Joniniai,” said the namesake.

For a strong person, a strong name

J. Leika reveals that he did not ask his parents why he chose the old Lithuanian name for him. But such a choice does not surprise him. He was the youngest in the family, he already had two older sisters. Relatives continued to anxiously wait for the father and had anticipated John’s name before his son was born. J. Leika says it started when his parents were in exile, but he was already born in Lithuania.

“My mother returned from Siberia a few days before I was born. She said she would give birth anywhere just to return to her homeland. She couldn’t wait any longer, because winter was coming in Siberia, if she hadn’t left, she could not having the opportunity to leave next year. That was how my belly and my trains went to Lithuania, maybe that’s why I like to travel on the train, “smiles J. Leika.

The nominee is convinced that the traditions of St. John’s Day will last as long as there are those who value them. It is true that no one can find a fern ring except the forest fairies. But the tradition of bathing in the morning dew, taming or floating the grass garlands in the river, jumping on the bonfires brings joy not only to Jonas or Janinas.

“Everyone celebrates this holiday in their own way. For some it is just another day off, while others commemorate it according to tradition, and the name forces me to celebrate Jonines,” says the Panevėžys resident.

Traditions can be created

Janina Sinickienė, museologist at the Panevėžys Museum of Local Knowledge and the V. Variakojis Sports Complex Museum, smiles so that she doesn’t want to get away from Joniniai even if she wants to. That day, the candidate receives special attention at work, and at night and in the company of family and friends.

“In our family, all names are those that have celebrated days with unique names: Ona, Povilas, Peter, there were no other names in our environment. That is why those nominal traditions are very popular in the family,” said J. Sinickienė.

Her family is religious, so she went to church in early summer to braid the wreaths of the grass and decorate it. Although he did not trust the boy to weave, he at least gave flowers to the weavers. The tradition of decorating the church and house with named grass was maintained in her youth, but Janina tries to follow other traditions.

“I have a garden, where we usually celebrate Saint John’s Day: we make a bonfire, we make garlands of herbs and flowers, we let them enter the river. What a vacation without songs and dances, swimming and looking for a fern ring,” said the namesake. .

At least in J. Sinickienė, every year a fern flower is found; the culprit of the festival hides it among flowers or trees.

“It is believed that whoever finds it will be happy all year.” It’s a nice surprise, but how fun it is for everyone to look for it. Traditions are very important for St. John’s Day, but we can create them ourselves, “said J. Sinickienė.