Midsummer's day is probably the most celebrated of Pagan festivals, and is associated most commonly with the druids at Stonehenge. Standing in the centre of the stone circle at Stonehenge, the midsummer sun can be seen rising over the heelstone. Other cultures and traditions call this day by different names; Midsummer, Summer Solstice, St Johns eve, Druidic festival of Alban Hefrin, Anglo Saxon festival of Litha, Day of Cerridwen, Day of Aine of Knockaine in Eire, Celebration of the Green Man in Northern Europe and Heras day celebrating women who have achieved communion with the Goddess.
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, and in Pagan traditions, this is the time of the God known as the Oak King (Lord of Light), who starts his reign on the Winter Solstice by defeating the Holly King (Dark Lord) in battle. Between the Winter and Summer Solstices the days gradually become lighter and this is seen as the oak king growing in strength. Then at the Summer Solstice the Oak and Holly king battle once more, this time the Holly king is triumphant and begins his reign as the Lord of the dark time of the year, growing in strength until the Winter Solstice when the cycle starts again.
It is a time of celebration for the bounty of plants and animals of summer which will sustain us through the winter months. On a personal level it is time to reflect upon and strengthen projects that you have started earlier in the year and which will come to fruition at Lammas, the time of the harvest.
June is the luckiest month in which to be married, known as the month of the honey or mead moon. Traditionally, newly weds drank mead (honey wine), for a month following marriage and it is believed this is where the term honeymoon derived from. With the strength of the sun at its peak, games and contests involving feats of strength were held at Mid Summer celebrations, to symbolically recreate the battle between the Oak and Holly King.
Other Midsummer customs include the presentation of a rose by the church warders of all hallows in London to the lord mayor, and in Leicester, the landlord of the crown and thistle pays 4d (old money), and a damask rose to his mayor. Another Midsummer custom is the lighting of bonfires as a focal point of the celebration.
A Solitary Summer Solstice Ritual
You will need the following;
4 Candles (yellow, red, blue and green)
Bowls of salt and water
Some Incense A bunch/es of herbs and/or flowers
Matches or Lighter Some dry tinder for the fire Light a Solstice Fire (if outdoors)
Create a sacred space.
Meditate on the meaning of the Summer Solstice and to reflect upon projects that you have started earlier in the year and which will come to fruition at Lammas, the time of the harvest.
Make individual offerings to the Goddess & God, in the northern quarter. Offer summer fruit or flowers and ask for the blessing of your intent.
Dance and chant around the fire to raise power for your intent.
Chant:
'I /we are one with the infinite sun, forever and ever and ever.' (Repeat)
Close sacred space.