Sankt Hans Aften 2025

Sankt Hans Aften at the Museum of Danish America

You’re invited to attend the Museum of Danish America’s free Sankt Hans Aften celebration in Elk Horn, Iowa on June 21 from 5 – 10 pm! Sankt Hans Aften, or Saint John’s Eve, is a Danish style midsummer festival. 

• Prepare for Danish hot dogs, s’mores and snobrød, and a bonfire at sunset.
• Expect traditional Danish fiddle tunes, music from other Nordic countries, old-time American and self-composed original tunes, and perhaps a few Venezuelan waltzes from Kristian Bugge & Ruthie Dornfeld, a fiddling duo who first met one another in the Danish folk music circles in the mid-1990s!
• Browse and shop the museum’s design store. 
• Pack your own lawn games, seating, beverages, etc., and be sure to bring your friends!
• All are welcome to attend!

Sankt Hans Aften is sponsored in part by Marne Elk Horn Communications, Elk Horn, IA, Shelby County State Bank, Harlan, IA, and Fareway Meat & Grocery, Harlan, IA. Funding for entertainment is provided by the American Scandinavian Foundation.

Due to heat levels and high winds, we will no longer be lighting the traditional bonfire at sunset or serving s’mores and snobrød. We thank you for your understanding.

History of Sankt Hans Aften (Midsummer)

Before Christianity came to Denmark, Scandinavian peoples celebrated the longest day as a supernatural struggle between light and dark, heat and cold. Since the feast day of Saint John the Baptist occurred on June 23, near the date of the annual summer solstice, the Christian Church emphasized this celebration in Scandinavia. “Hans” is the diminutive of “Johannes” or “John.” 

In the late 19th century, it became common to affix a figure resembling a witch on top of a bonfire. The witch is said to be sent back to Brocken/Blocksberg in the Harz Mountains of Germany, reflecting the uneasiness Danes felt about their powerful neighbor to the south. Some Danes regard this part of the tradition with mixed emotions as it evokes memories of the horrible persecutions and “witch” burnings carried out in Denmark and other European countries in the 17th century. However, this custom is only a little part of the overall tradition. Over time, the tradition of lighting bonfires became dominant, and other rituals gradually diminished as people enjoyed the coziness of gathering around a warm fire.  

Songs and music are also a part of this tradition. During the 19th century, the singing of traditional folk songs was replaced by patriotic songs. The most popular of these is the Danish patriotic song Vi elsker vort land (We love our country), also known as Midsommervisen (Midsummer song). This song is sung at every Sankt Hans Aften celebration across the country. It was written in 1885 by the Danish poet Holger Drachmann; the original version included music by P.E. Lange-Müller. In 1979, the Danish pop band “Shu-bi-dua” created a new melody for the song, and since then, both versions have been accepted and commonly used during Sankt Hans Aften celebrations among Danish communities. For the full lyrics click here.