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obliged to lay a wreath of flowers on the top of the pile。
In Provence the midsummer fires are still popular。 Children go from door to door begging for fuel； and they are seldom sent empty away。 Formerly the priest； the mayor； and the aldermen used to walk in procession to the bonfire； and even deigned to light it； after which the assembly marched thrice round the burning pile。 At Aix a nominal king； chosen from among the youth for his skill in shooting at a popinjay； presided over the midsummer festival。 He selected his own officers； and escorted by a brilliant train marched to the bonfire； kindled it； and was the first to dance round it。 Next day he distributed largesse to his followers。 His reign lasted a year； during which he enjoyed certain privileges。 He was allowed to attend the mass celebrated by the commander of the Knights of St。 John on St。 John's Day； the right of hunting was accorded to him； and soldiers might not be quartered in his house。 At Marseilles also on this day one of the guilds chose a king of the badache or double axe； but it does not appear that he kindled the bonfire； which is said to have been lighted with great ceremony by the préfet and other authorities。
In Belgium the custom of kindling the midsummer bonfires has long disappeared from the great cities； but it is still kept up in rural districts and small towns。 In that country the Eve of St。 Peter's Day （the twenty…ninth of June） is celebrated by bonfires and dances exactly like those which commemorate St。 John's Eve。 Some people say that the fires of St。 Peter； like those of St。 John； are lighted in order to drive away dragons。 In French Flanders down to 1789 a straw figure representing a man was always burned in the midsummer bonfire； and the figure of a woman was burned on St。 Peter's Day； the twenty…ninth of June。 In Belgium people jump over the midsummer bonfires as a preventive of colic； and they keep the ashes at home to hinder fire from breaking out。
The custom of lighting bonfires at midsummer has been observed in many parts of our own country； and as usual people danced round and leaped over them。 In Wales three or nine different kinds of wood and charred faggots carefully preserved from the last midsummer were deemed necessary to build the bonfire； which was generally done on rising ground。 In the Vale of Glamorgan a cart…wheel swathed in straw used to be ignited and sent rolling down the hill。 If it kept alight all the way down and blazed for a long time； an abundant harvest was expected。 On Midsummer Eve people in the Isle of Man were wont to light fires to the windward of every field； so that the smoke might pass over the corn； and they folded their cattle and carried blazing furze or gorse round them several times。 In Ireland cattle； especially barren cattle； were driven through the midsummer fires； and the ashes were thrown on the fields to fertilise them； or live coals were carried into them to prevent blight。 In Scotland the traces of midsummer fires are few； but at that season in the highlands of Perthshire cowherds used to go round their folds thrice； in the direction of the sun； with lighted torches。 This they did to purify the flocks and herds and to keep them from falling sick。
The practice of lighting bonfires on Midsummer Eve and dancing or leaping over them is； or was till recently； common all over Spain and in some parts of Italy and Sicily。 In Malta great fires are kindled in the streets and squares of the towns and villages on the Eve of St。 John （Midsummer Eve）； formerly the Grand Master of the Order of St。 John used on that evening to set fire to a heap of pitch barrels placed in front of the sacred Hospital。 In Greece； too； the custom of kindling fires on St。 John's Eve and jumping over them is said to be still universal。 One reason assigned for it is a wish to escape from the fleas。 According to another account； the women cry out； as they leap over the fire； I leave my sins behind me。 In Lesbos the fires on St。 John's Eve are usually lighted by threes； and the people spring thrice over them； each with a stone on his head； saying； I jump the hare's fire； my head a stone！ In Calymnos the midsummer fire is supposed to ensure abundance in the coming year as well as deliverance from fleas。 The people dance round the fires singing； with stones on their heads； and then jump over the blaze or the glowing embers。 When the fire is burning low； they throw the stones into it； and when it is nearly out； they make crosses on their legs and then go straightway and bathe in the sea。
The custom of kindling bonfires on Midsummer Day or on Midsummer Eve is widely spread among the Mohammedan peoples of North Africa； particularly in Morocco and Algeria； it is common both to the Berbers and to many of the Arabs or Arabic…speaking tribes。 In these countries Midsummer Day （the twenty…fourth of June； Old Style） is called l'ánsara。 The fires are lit in the courtyards； at cross…roads； in the fields； and sometimes on the threshing…floors。 Plants which in burning give out a thick smoke and an aromatic smell are much sought after for fuel on these occasions； among the plants used for the purpose are giant…fennel； thyme； rue； chervil…seed； camomile； geranium； and penny…royal。 People expose themselves； and especially their children； to the smoke； and drive it towards the orchards and the crops。 Also they leap across the fires； in some places everybody ought to repeat the leap seven times。 Moreover they take burning brands from the fires and carry them through the houses in order to fumigate them。 They pass things through the fire； and bring the sick into contact with it； while they utter prayers for their recovery。 The ashes of the bonfires are also reputed to possess beneficial properties； hence in some places people rub their hair or their bodies with them。 In some places they think that by leaping over the fires they rid themselves of all misfortune； and that childless couples thereby obtain offspring。 Berbers of the Rif province； in Northern Morocco； make great use of fires at midsummer for the good of themselves； their cattle； and their fruit…trees。 They jump over the bonfires in the belief that this will preserve them in good health； and they light fires under fruit…trees to keep the fruit from falling untimely。 And they imagine that by rubbing a paste of the ashes on their hair they prevent the hair from falling off their heads。 In all these Moroccan customs； we are told； the beneficial effect is attributed wholly to the smoke； which is supposed to be endued with a magical quality that removes misfortune from men； animals； fruit…trees and crops。
The celebration of a midsummer festival by Mohammedan peoples is particularly remarkable； because the Mohammedan calendar； being purely lunar and uncorrected by intercalation； necessarily takes no note of festivals which occupy fixed points in the solar year； all strictly Mohammedan feasts； being pinned to the moon； slide gradually with that luminary through the whole period of the earth's revolution about the sun。 This fact of itself seems to prove that among the Mohammedan peoples of Northern Africa； as among the Christian peoples of Europe； the midsummer festival is quite inde