The Finnish name for the traditional midsummer bonfire lit during Juhannus is kokko.
A kokko is a large bonfire associated with Finnish midsummer celebrations, especially in areas near lakes and along the coast. People traditionally gather around it on Midsummer Eve, often at a lakeside cottage, where the fire becomes the central focus of an evening of food, music, swimming, and socialising.
The word Juhannus comes from Saint John the Baptist, whose feast day is June 24. Finnish midsummer also retains older seasonal customs, including protective greenery, sauna bathing, and rituals intended to encourage good fortune and romance.
The bonfire is not simply a campfire: in traditional practice, it is a deliberately constructed communal fire, sometimes built on a floating platform. Fire-related customs vary by region, and rural island and coastal communities are particularly associated with impressive kokko displays.