wood and other fuel to the pile. Also in the southern towns the pole with the cross was raised.
In the diocese of Bergen another form is commonly used. In Alversund, Nordhordland, some eight days before the festival of St. John, they make a great pile, mainly consisting of juniper, nowadays, however, partly of wood and old, decayed boats. In the middle of the pyre is placed a birch with the twigs lopped off, but having a tuft at the top. This figure is called either the Jonsokkall or the Jonsokkjerring, i.e. the Jonsokman and the Jonsokwoman (kall being pronounced with the a of "father"). The same figure was ignited on the Syftesok Eve (1st July), and was then called the Syftesokkjerring or the Syftesok-saate, "saate" being the English rick or hay-cock, bearing the resemblance of a rick. In the isle of Stord the pyre was composed as in Nordhordland but the names of the figures were forgotten. In Sund parish the Jonsokkall and the Syftesokkall are known, but no kjerring (woman). In Sunnzlven, Sŏndmöre, near Aalesund, on St. John's Eve a pyre of juniper is made with a birch in the middle of it. At times a tar-bucket is hung on one of the branches. In Lindaas, near Bergen, the young folk eight to fourteen days before St. John's Eve began to collect fuel for a "saate" (rick). The "saate" consists of peat, heather, juniper, fir-twigs and the like. In the top of the rick is fixed a birch. A little sham-rick, composed of heather, is made beside the big and real one, and this little rick is kindled before the other, apparently to draw people to the festival. This sham rick has no birch fixed at the top. In Volda, Söndmöre, the sham rick "narresaata" has preserved a more original and national name, the "Lokkarbrising." Lokke = to entice, and brising = flame, fire. We still in Söndmöre use the name of "brising" of the St. John's Eve pyre.
I may perhaps add that on Midsummer Eve a young couple clad in the costumes of a bride and a bridegroom, and accompanied by a retinue clad in their best clothes, celebrate their Midsummer marriage. They take a trip into the wood, where nuptial rites are performed by walking thrice round a stone or a juniper, like the gipsies, and afterwards they all
