It's still wonderfully light outside after 8 p.m. in Wisconsin, and that can only mean one thing: the summer solstice. On this #ParanormalTuesday special, Mike and Wendy explore the magic, folklore, and fire of the longest day of the year.
They start close to home with the solstice bonfire at Olbrich Park in Madison, complete with drumming and dancing, then travel back in time to St. John's Eve. Bonfires were lit to protect people against the power of the devil on a night when magic and black magic were believed to be at their strongest. Fans of Disney's Fantasia will recognize the idea: "Night on Bald Mountain" was originally conceived as St. John's Eve on Bald Mountain.
In New Orleans, St. John's Eve belonged to Marie Laveau, the famous voodoo queen, whose legendary ceremonies drew crowds of curious onlookers. The hosts also share a story of watching the sun rise over Stonehenge, the mystery of how ancient people built it, and The Wicker Man, whose summer festival takes a famously sinister turn.
Viewers jump in with their own traditions, including wishing boxes, and Mike reflects on how rituals once felt empty to him but now seem worth trying. Even if nothing magical happens, they can set your mind in the right direction.
Want to walk in Marie Laveau's footsteps? Join us on the French Quarter Ghost Walk in New Orleans.