You’ve heard of Christmas in July, but did you know there’s a Summer Christmas for Catholics?
It marks the birthday of St. John the Baptist, who is one of only three people, besides Jesus and Mary, whose birthday is celebrated in church liturgy.
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist falls on June 24, exactly six months before the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, which is why it’s sometimes known as Summer Christmas.
While it isn’t usually celebrated with presents, some countries observe “St. John’s Eve” with a bonfire, fireworks, or a candle-lit procession in honor of the saint who “was not the light, but came to testify to the light.”