St. John's Day, Masonic feast facts for kids
Freemasons are a very old group of people who have special traditions. They often celebrate two important days connected to two saints, both named John.
One day is for John the Baptist, which is on 24 June. This is around the middle of summer. The other day is for John the Evangelist, which is on 27 December. This is around the middle of winter.
Long ago, in the 1700s, different groups of Freemasons had their own favorite day. For example, the first big group in England, called the Premier Grand Lodge of England, and the group in Ireland, called the Grand Lodge of Ireland, liked John the Baptist's day. But other groups, like the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Ancient Grand Lodge of England, preferred John the Evangelist's day. They would often choose their leaders, called Grand Masters, on these special days. Later, two big English groups joined together to form the United Grand Lodge of England on 27 December 1813.
John the Baptist: A Summer Celebration
The very first Grand Lodge was created on 24 June 1717. This was on the feast day of John the Baptist. This choice might come from a very old tradition. In the Middle Ages, John the Baptist was seen as a special protector for stonemasons in Europe. For example, a group of masons and carpenters who worked on the famous Cologne Cathedral was even called the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist.
The oldest record we have of the Grand Lodge of Ireland choosing its leader is also on 24 June, in 1725. It seems that many local Freemason groups in Ireland and England would meet twice a year to choose new leaders. They would do this on the feast days of both John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.
John the Evangelist: A Winter Tradition
John the Evangelist is especially important to Freemason groups in Scotland. For example, a group called the Lodge of Edinburgh has been linked to a special part of St. Giles Cathedral, called the aisle of St. John the Evangelist, since the 1400s.
In England, a group called the Grand Lodge of All England (and an older group it came from) would choose their leader on John the Evangelist's day. Also, in London, the Antient Grand Lodge of England chose their new Grand Masters on this same day. When the two main English Freemason groups finally united to form the United Grand Lodge of England, it happened on the Feast of the Evangelist in 1813.
