The traditional name of the giant bonfires lit during Norway’s Sankthans celebrations is sankthansbål.
A sankthansbål is a large bonfire associated with Norway’s celebration of Saint John’s Eve, known in Norwegian as Sankthans or Jonsok. The fires are generally lit on June 23, close to the summer solstice, and can become major community events. The compound word combines Sankthans, “Saint John,” with bål, meaning “bonfire.”
Norwegian midsummer traditions combine Christian calendar observances with older seasonal fire customs. People gather outdoors, share food, and enjoy the long twilight or near-daylight conditions characteristic of the season in northern parts of the country.
Sankthansbål refers specifically to the fire, not to the name of the entire festival. The celebration itself may be called Sankthans or Jonsok, while bål is the bonfire. Norway’s practice also has regional variations, so not every community builds a fire of the same size or design.