Of course, the bonfires predate the Baptist. It's one of those pagan customs co-opted by the Church when she co-opted Midsummer Night, exorcising its demons and baptizing whatever was harmless merriment. Now that the mighty prophet John owns June 24th, we can safely laugh at demons, fairies, leprechauns, and the other assorted lower classes of fallen angels thought to inhabit forests, rivers, meadows, and underground caves. Hence the fitness of Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. In this story, fairies take advantage of the power they have on this night to inflict magical love spells on hapless mortals who fall into the crossfire of a dispute between the King and Queen of the fairy kingdom. The redeemed can safely laugh at such things, since they have no reason to fear them.
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Bottom and the Fairy Queen |
Weather and zoning law permitting, light a bonfire tonight or tomorrow nght in honor of St. John the Baptist. Otherwise, grill your dinner and tell your children the meaning of those lesser flames.