How did and do people celebrate the festival?

Young people gathered grasses with which they predicted their futures. Dew was collected that gathered on the leaves and flowers on the midsummer’s night as it was believed to have magical power in medicine.As cows play a great role in people’s life, great attention is still paid to protection of cows — people will keep the cows’ safe inside. Only after the dews have gone away the cows go out to enjoy the grasses.(http://www.linkslondon4lover.com)

Today, midsummer is celebrated all over, including parts of the USA and China. It is believed that A Midsummer’s Dream was written in the midsummer of 1594 or 1595. Have a look at the delicious play and wonder: So wonderful as it is why do we not celebrate the Festival by all means ?

In France today, April first is called “Poisson d’Avril (April Fish)”. French children fool their friends by taping7 a paper fish to their friends’ backs. When the “young fool” discovers this trick, the others shout “Poisson d’Avril! “Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike8 on the first of April. One common9 trick is pointing down to a friend’s shoe and saying, “Your shoelace is untied10.” Another trick is to secretly stick a sign on someone’s back that says something like “kick me” or “hit me”. Some people may get to the office early and set all the clocks ahead” by one hour, and then tell everyone who comes in the door that they are late for work. When they begin to apologize, they hear “April Fools”! The teacher may give unexpected12 exam papers to the students. When they see “April Fool! ” at the bottom of the paper, they realize it’s a joke and begin to laugh. Some jokes are kept up13 the whole day before the “fool” realizes what day it is.

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.

—American humorist1 Mark TwainIn sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed2 on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar4 for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. Not everyone in France heard about5 the change, and even some who did know continued to celebrate the New Year on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them “April fools”. The custom6 of playing tricks on this day became popular in France and then spread to many other countries.(http://www.linkslondon4lover.com/necklaces-c-142.html)

Gathering Family and friends get together to treat themselves with such wonderful food as herring8, boiled potatoes, sour cream, bread, beer, followed by strawberries or fresh fruit. After the meal, people would dance. Dancing was meant to drive away evil spirits and ensure a big harvest, and is just for fun. They sing traditional songs, play games into the next day — remember, the sun does not set at all in Scandinavia at this time of year!