Midsummer, the Summer Solstice

Midsummer (Summer Solstice)

Changes in the mood of nature never fail to kindle feelings in all sentient beings.  The June solstice is a turning point—and what a grand turning point it is!  The sun, having climbed ever higher in the noonday sky and having risen and set ever closer to the northern limit on its annual pendulum-like swing along the horizon, now slows its course to an imperceptible pace.  It stands still, giving visual meaning to the word “solstice.”  Then, like a roller coaster at the peak of one of its summits, it begins ever so slowly to retrace its steps along the heavenly highway.

Technically, a solstice is an astronomical point and, due to the precession to the equinox, the date may vary by a few days depending on the year. The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer and we then experience the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Astrologers know this as the date on which the sun enters the sign of Cancer.

However, since most European peasants were not accomplished at reading an ephemeris or did not live close enough to Salisbury Plain to trot over to Stonehenge and sight down its main avenue, they celebrated the event on a fixed calendar date, June 24th. The slight forward displacement of the traditional date is the result of multitudinous calendrical changes down through the ages. It is analogous to the winter solstice celebration which is astronomically on or about December 21st, but is celebrated on the traditional date of December 25th, Yule, later adopted by the Christians.

Again, it must be remembered that the Celts reckoned their days from sundown to sundown, so the June 24th festivities actually begin on the previous sundown (our June 23rd). This was Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Eve. Which brings up another point: our modern calendars are quite misguided in suggesting that 'summer begins' on the solstice. According to the old folk calendar, summer BEGINS on May Day and ends on Lammas (August 1st), with the summer solstice, midway between the two, marking MID-summer. This makes more logical sense than suggesting that summer begins on the day when the sun's power begins to wane and the days grow shorter.

Although our Pagan ancestors probably preferred June 24th (and indeed most European folk festivals today use this date), the sensibility of modern Witches seems to prefer the actual solstice point, beginning the celebration at sunset. Again, it gives modern Pagans a range of dates to choose from, hopefully with a weekend embedded in it.

Once again, thinking back to our ancestors, we know that they found this to be a peaceful time.  The breeze is balmy and pleasant, and flowers are in full bloom.  The crops were planted, their animals had usually birthed by this time and they have a slight lull as they awaited the time of the first harvest.  Among humans there is changing type of energy.  Where spring made us sprightly, Summer makes us passionate.  Sensuality is at its highest expression; heat makes us languid, yet the cooler are energizing.

The ancients celebrated Midsummer because the fruits (literally) of their hard work were now obvious in their gardens and fields, and even in the fruit-laden trees. It has traditionally been a time of great feasting and merriments.  These festivities arose from a fear that the waning light would disappear altogether, so ancient peoples built huge bonfires to warm the heavens and help keep the Sun going.  As the years passed, magickal rituals replaced the original rites and included many spells for romance and marriage.

The oldest recorded midsummer rituals, from France in the fourth century, describe rolling of a flaming wheel down a hill, and midsummer rolling wheels of fire are recorded throughout the Middle Ages. 

This day is known as Midsummer, because, for the pagan community, Summer officially starts at Beltane (on May 1^st) and ends on Lughnasadh (August 1^st) with this day falling between the two.  Other names that this holiday is known as are Litha and St. John the Conqueror Day.  For those who are of the Christian faith this the date chosen for honoring John the Baptiste, cousin and fore-seer of Jesus Christ.

Names:           Alban Hefin

Alban Heruin (Druidic)

Feill-Sheathain

Gathering Day

Litha (Saxon)

Midsummer

Midsummer Night’s Eve

St. John’s Day

Summer Solstice

Sun Blessing

Thing-Tide

Vestalia

Whit Sunday

Whitsuntide

Meaning:        Beginning of Waning Year

Honoring of Sun/God at His Power

Honoring the Pregnant Goddess

Preparation for Harvest

Saying Farewell to the Waxing Year

Key Actions(s):          Nurture and Love

Taboos:           Giving Away Fire

Neglecting Animals

Sleeping Away From Home

Symbols:         Balefire

Blades

Faeries

Fire

Mistletoe

Oak Trees

Sun Wheels

The Sun

Colors:            Blue

Gold

Green

Tan

Mythical Creatures:  Dragon

Faeries

Firebird

Manticore

Satyrs

Thunderbird

Animals:         Cattle

Horses

Robin/Wren

Summer Birds

Stones:            Diamond

Emerald

Jade

Lapis Lazuli

Tiger’s Eye