Saint John's Eve, starting at sunset on 23 June, is the eve of the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. It is one of only two feast days marking a saint's earthly birth (the other being the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 September); all other saint’s days mark their deaths (dies natalis, their “birth” into Heaven), or some other important event. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26–37, 56–57) states that John was born six months before Jesus; thus, the feast of John the Baptist’s birth was fixed on 24 June, six months before Christmas. In the Roman calendar, 24 June was the date of the summer solstice, and Saint John's Eve is closely associated with Midsummer festivities in Europe. Traditions are similar to those of May Day, and include bonfires (Saint John's fires), feasting, processions, church services, and gathering wild plants.
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Feast Day in the context of Fulrad
Saint Fulrad (French: Fulrade; Latin: Fulradus; 710 – 16 July 784) was a Frankish religious leader who was the Abbot of Saint-Denis. He was the counselor of both Pepin the Short and Charlemagne. Historians see Fulrad as important due to his significance in the rise of the Frankish Kingdom, and the insight he gives into early Carolingian society. He was noted to have been always on the side of Charlemagne, especially during the attack from the Saxons on Regnum Francorum (Latin for Francia), and the Royal Mandatum (a royal official of the Carolingian administrative hierarchy). Other historians have taken a closer look at Fulrad's interactions with the papacy. When Fulrad was the counselor of Pepin he was closely in contact with the papacy to gain approval for Pepin's appointment as King of the Franks. During his time under Charlemagne, he had dealings with the papacy again for different reasons. When he became Abbot of Saint-Denis in the mid-eighth century, Fulrad became important in the lives of distinct historical figures in various ways. Saint Fulrad's Feast Day is on 16 July.