This Thursday evening is exactly half a year from or to Christmas, and is The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. It is a red-letter day, meaning that, in the words of the Prayer Book, it is "appointed to be observed". It is sufficiently important a feast in the Church year to have an Octave appointed for its celebration -- eight days, instead of just one. The only other feasts to have Octaves (besides Easter, which has "a week of weeks", and Christmas that has an octave-and-a-half) are Epiphany, the feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and All Saints.

Despite its being "appointed to be observed", none of the churches in my city are planning services for St. John's Eve. Tentatively, I'm planning to celegrate with a cook-out on a hill-top in a local natural area (at the permanent fireplace in the area, with minimal ecological impact.) Saint John's Eve is of course one of the Quarter Days, aproximately located at the Summer equinox. Bon-fires are part of the traditional celebration of the day. One good use of a Saint-John's Eve bonfire is to burn all the school-papers from the preceding school year that are not "keepers". Give thanks for education, and symbolically offer your education as a sacrifice to be used in God's service. Here's the collect for Schools and Colleges:

Almighty God, of whose only gift cometh wisdom and understanding: We beseech thee with thy gracious favour to behold our universities, colleges, and schools, that knowledge may be increased among us, and all good learning flourish and abound. Bless all who teech and all who learn; and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look unto thee, who art the fountain of all wisdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

http://home.nyc.rr.com/mysticalrose/johnseve.html
http://home.nyc.rr.com/mysticalrose/johnsday.html

It was pouring rain on Saint John's Eve, with the occasional thunder and lightening. Rachel listened askance to my bonfire/feast proposal, and suggested that we use the little iron stove in the parlour. Anne wanted the hill-top. They compromised on the backyard, where we could shelter under the eaves of the garage, but still have a decent fire.

We cooked bannock on a stick, with rashers of bacon wrapped round the bannock, and had strawberries, whipped cream, and carbonated raspberry juice. For table-grace we prayed:

"Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

It was a good feast, if rather damp!