The Estonian name for the midsummer bonfire lit during Jaanipäev celebrations is jaanituli.
Jaanituli literally refers to the Saint John fire and is the characteristic bonfire of Estonian Midsummer. It is traditionally lit on Jaaniõhtu, the evening before June 24, when people gather outdoors to celebrate the longest days of the year. The fire is often the social focus of a village, family, or public event.
Estonian Jaanipäev customs combine older seasonal practices with the Christian calendar date of Saint John the Baptist. Alongside the bonfire, people may sing, dance, eat together, visit a sauna, and remain awake during the short night. Contemporary celebrations range from small family fires to large public events.
The term jaanituli is specific to Estonian usage. Similar fires have different names in neighboring cultures, including Finland’s kokko, Lithuania’s Joninių laužas, and Latvia’s Jāņi bonfires.