Denmark’s coastline will be peppered with bonfires, barbecues, burning howling witches, speeches, songs and fireworks on Saturday evening as thousands of Danes celebrate the traditional midsummer Sankt Hans festival and flock to bonfire events across the country.

This year, the Met Office has promised temperatures of between 12 and 14 degrees and if not sunny at least dry weather in most parts of the country, for what in other years has been a somewhat drenched affair.

Held on the 23rd of June each year on the eve of John the Baptist’s saint’s day, the nomer Skt. Hans is a telescoped version of the Danish name for the saint – Johannes. His saint’s day on June 24 comes exactly six months before Christmas Eve.

Historically, however, the feast was one in connection with the summer solstice – the longest day – a time when it was felt it was most opportune for mediaeval wise men and women to gather the medicinal plants that were part of their trade. The tradition of bonfires is an equally ancient one used throughout northern Europe to scare away evil spirits.

From the beginning of the 20th century, however, the effigy of a witch was added to Danish bonfires. Some claim the practice was to remember the witch burnings of the 16th and 17th centuries. The last witch to be beheaded and burned in Denmark was 74-year-old Anne Palles in 1693.

Others claim that German immigrants introduced the tradition in the early 20th century, with claims that the bonfires prevent witches flying to their annual witches’ sabbath in Bloksbjerg in Germany, from landing in transit to refuel their broomsticks and practice their craft.

The conglomeration of ancient and more recent reasons to celebrate the eve of John the Baptist’s saint’s day has resulted in beaches across the country being inundated with the public, as bonfires burn, speeches are held and the assembled multitudes render a traditional song written by Holger Drachmann around 1887 - Vi elsker vort land (We love our country).

Drachmann, one of Denmark’s more colourful artists and authors, died in 1908 in the North Zealand town of Hornbæk, where he spent much time, wrote much verse and enjoyed much female company. Each Sankt Hans he mysteriously reappears on Hornbæk beach, to make sure his verse is sung properly and, no doubt, to view the ladies, as was his wont. He is buried in Skagen.

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