What is Austria’s traditional midsummer solstice fire called?

Austria’s traditional midsummer solstice fire is called Sonnwendfeuer.

Sonnwendfeuer means “solstice fire” in German. In Austria, these fires are lit around the summer solstice, particularly in Alpine regions, where bonfires on mountain slopes can form visible chains of light across the landscape.

The custom combines older seasonal fire traditions with later Christian associations connected to Saint John’s Eve. Depending on the region, celebrations may include torches, music, communal meals, and smaller fires on ridges or hilltops.

Sonnwendfeuer should not be confused with Osterfeuer, the Easter fires held in spring, or Martinsfeuer, lantern and fire traditions associated with Saint Martin in November. The defining feature here is the midsummer solstice setting.