St. John's Day: A time for Rusyns to build fires

Night on the Eve of Ivan Kupala, a Polish painting by Henryk Siemiradzki

Although the practice didn't survive among immigrants in the U.S. (especially in urban areas like the Chicago region), June 24 is St. John's Day, a time for summer celebration, and a brief break in one of the busiest times of the calendars for a people tied to the soil

One part of the celebration, St. John's Eve bonfires, aren't uniquely Rusyn -- but they were a regular part of our calendar.

An article from the Carpatho-Rusyn American from 1984 explains some of the folk traditions.