St. John's Eve
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On the evening of June 23, St. John's Eve (or Bonfire Night) is celebrated in many parts of rural Ireland with the lighting of bonfires.
This ancient custom has its roots in pre-Christian Irish society when the Celts honoured the Goddess Áine, the Celtic equivalent of Venus and Aphrodite. She was the Goddess Queen of Munster and Christianised rituals in her honour (as Naomh Áine) took place until the nineteenth century on Knockainy, (Cnoc Áine - the Hill of Áine) on Co. Limerick.