Ten fun facts about the Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and is generally celebrated on the 21st
June. So those are facts that you knew already! Below are a few facts that you
may or may not know about this wonderful time of year, a celebration of the
wonderful strength of our amazing sun.
The common name used amongst Pagans
for the Summer Solstice is Litha. Other names for Litha include: Lithia, Alban
Hefin(Gaelic for light of the shore), Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain,
Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia(Roman), The Feast of Epona(Ancient Gaulish)
Thing-Tide, Sank Hans Aften(Denmak) and St. John's Day. If you have heard of
any more I would love to hear from you!
The word Solstice comes from the
Latin ‘solstitium’ meaning 'Sun stands still' because the apparent movement of the Sun's
path north or south stops before changing direction.
Litha is often synonymous with
Midsummer and is said to be associated with Faeries or the fey folk. Offerings
of milk and honey were often left out for them.
 |
| Transformed by Ruth Calder Murphy |
As well as faeries
there were thought to be evil sprits around at this time of year therefore our
ancesters wore garlands of herbs and flowerflowers to protect themselves. The most
popular of these was St Johns wort which was known as ‘chase’devil’
Litha was known as Sankt Hans Aften in Denmark and was an official holiday until
1770.
Litha was celebrated with
bonfires as a reflection of the sun. Folk would jump through the fires and it
was said that the height that they jumped would be the height of their crops
the following year.
The Chinese celebrate this
time of year by honouring Li the Goddess of Light
The Druids celebrated the day
as the wedding of heaven and earth. They believed this to be a very sacred day,
seeing the wonderful long day as a blessing given to us by mother earth.
Handfasting ceremonies became very popular during June and even today it
remains popular to have a June wedding.
The full moon that occurs near
the time of the Summer Solstice is often termed Mead moon, name for the drink
made from honey, often served at handfasting ceremonies.
In Poland the night of merrymaking
- also known as St. John’s Night or “Noc Świętojańska” - is still observed in some
areas and some Polish communities in the United States
