March 14 is a holiday of very ancient pagan origin. Faik Konica wrote about Summer Day in 1911: “What is the Summer Day? It’s the day our ancestors celebrated alongside Romans and ancient Greeks, the gods of flowers, willows, and springs long before Christianity was born. When winter withers away, when spring smiles softly and long like, in a Botticelli painting, the heart of man is nourished by a burden, savors tranquility, sweet happiness. In this joy, our ancestors were obliged to thank the gods who brought these blessings. And thus, what we call the Summer Day bloomed. In a few days in Albania, the last faithful followers of paganism, faithful unknowingly and without knowledge, will surround with “before” the branches of the trees, the junipers, laurels, and all the venerable willows. They will cut green branches and place them above their house roofs.” (In the photo: Illustrative photo for Summer’s Day Celebration.)
Text: National Historical Museum, Tirana
Photo: © Albanian Telegraphic Agency
Graphic processing: AHCF
