Nativity of John the Baptist (St John's Day) · Eyd-e Milad-e Yahya-ye Ta'mid-dahandeh

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · Eastern Orthodox (new calendar) · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

The Nativity of John the Baptist is one of the few birthdays in the church calendar, set six months before Christmas because Luke says John was conceived six months before Jesus (Luke 1:36). Falling near the summer solstice, it took on Midsummer customs, such as the bonfires lit across Europe on its eve, St John's Eve. It is a Catholic solemnity and a public holiday in Quebec, where it is the Fête nationale, Catalonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Puerto Rico. In the rare year it meets a feast of the Lord, the Roman Rite moves it to June 23; that case is not shown.