Ozark Pagan Mamma

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year.  This year it occurs on June 21st.  Astronomically, it marks the beginning of summer, but seasonally, it is in fact Midsummer.  However, across Europe, Midsummer is not celebrated on the actual solstice, it is celebrated on June 24th.  The reason for this is because the 24th was the date of the solstice when the Julian calendar was created.  The name “Litha” for the Summer Solstice is only as old as the 1970’s- it was invented by Aidan Kelly as part of a religious studies project.  It is somewhat based on words that Saint Bede recorded as being ancient Anglo-Saxon names for the months of June/July.  (By the way, the name “Mabon” for the Autumn Equinox was also made up by Aidan Kelly.)

Traditions surrounding Midsummer mostly involve fire- lighting fires on hilltops, and in Wales, rolling a flaming wheel down a hill (it symbolizes the journey of the sun).  It is also traditional to gather healing herbs on Midsummer.  In Ireland, Midsummer was known as one of the three ‘spirit nights’ of the year (the others being Bealtaine and Samhain).  All sorts of rituals and magics were enacted for protection against fairies. 

Most Celtic Reconstructionists will be quick to tell you that the Solstices and Equinoxes are not Celtic, that celebrating them came to the Celtic peoples from Roman/ Anglo-Saxon influences.  However, the ancients observed the solstices and equinoxes long before Celtic culture came into existence- in lands that would later be occupied by Celtic cultures.  Many scholars now believe that that there was to invasion of Ireland by the Celts- that the ancient builders of Ireland’s (solstice accentuating) megaliths (like Newgrange) were the direct ancestors of the Irish people. 

Anyway, whether the solstices are pre-Celtic or not, universal or not, whatever-  I’m inclined to take notice of them because they are the great astrological turning points of the year.  It’s a sad, very sad fact that here in America, those old European bonfire traditions surrounding the solstice did not “carry over”.  Sure, Neo-pagan groups celebrate in various ways, but this isn’t quite the same as it would be if it was a holiday (even secular) celebrated by the community at large.  For the isolated celebrant, with not even a Neo-pagan group to participate in, there are many more obstacles to celebrating in any kind of traditional way- especially if you don’t own land.  Most public parks close at dark, so building even a small fire in a BBQ grill may be pointless if you’re going to have to leave at dark anyway.  The obvious solution to this is to go camping- at least you could burn a fire all night- dance, sing, and feast, in full traditional fashion- on a smaller scale, or course.  If even this is not possible (or practical) for you, then don’t sweat it.  I love those old traditions but I don’t enact all of them for every holiday.

I think this year I’ll do a simple meditation and read the Midsummer threshold invocation from the Celtic Devotional, then spend Midsummer doing a couple of my favorite summer activities with my family- swimming and a BBQ.

By the way, if you’re looking for some (not-so-traditional) kids activities for Midsummer, the best idea I’ve found (and I used to do this with my older kids when they were little) is to have a Midsummer treasure hunt!  This idea is from the book Wiccacraft for Families by Margie McArthur.  You paint or engrave sun symbols (the author gives many examples of sun symbols in the book) onto small clay or wood disks.  You know the rest- hide them, the kids find them.  The disks become keepsakes for remembering that year’s solstice.  Another fun solsticey thing I’ve done with the kids is make a big sun piñata as described in Circle Round.