How do you celebrate summer solstice?

Answer 1

How to celebrate the summer solstice depends on what religious tradition you follow. Some pagan traditions do not celebrate the summer solstice, while others consider it to have utmost importance. If you do not find the answer you seek here, try asking your question by including a specific path (e.g. "How do ______ celebrate the summer solstice?") for a more specific answer.

Summer solstice is also know as Litha, Midsummer's Eve, and Alban Heruin in Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Wiccan tradition.

Below you will find a sample ritual from a summer solstice celebration:

We gather now at this sacred time, and join ourselves to the powers and forces of this mystical season. This is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. It is the longest day of the year, when Light triumphs, and yet begins the decline into dark. Once again the Veil has thinned between the realms of the Sidhe and the world of mortals. On this day who knows what may happen or what may be granted...and take special care where you walk this night, for the Faerie Folk are abroad with you.

We started our day at about noon:30 with a family style pot-luck picnic for the 30 folks (members, family and friends) who attended. There was Bocci, & Croquet, crafts and games for those inclined, followed by a teaching story (in the native American tradition) of "the Sea Turtle & the Helium Balloon" Just before the ritual the Holly King strode into the playing field and challenged the Oak King. This year we had our younger members taking the roles in circle so the two thirteen year olds played the parts with strong WWF overtones. It was great fun, with all the posturing, and costumes and play fighting. The Holly King triumphed as he should, and the two lead all of us to the circle.

Again the parts were all taken by our younger members. the High Priest ( a 16 year old boy) and High Priestess ( a 16 year old girl) anointed us as we filed into the circle while the Squire passed out helium balloons (this is why we had the teaching story). The circle was consecrated by the High Priestess with an Athame, then the elements were called. A six year old boy sprinkled sand and herbs around the circle while an adult member called Earth, an eight year old carried a "personal" fan around the circle, while an adult called Air, an eleven year old with a giant sparkler walked the circle as her aunt called Fire, a three year old girl with a squirt gun (and instructions only to shoot the rocks and plants) walked the circle, being very careful to get as much wet as she could, while her mother walked behind her calling Water and keeping the wee one moving. Finally a two year old boy, in his mother's arms, blew bubbles while his mom called Spirit.

Of necessity the ritual was short, but the Teacher (another 16 year old girl) read the explanation of Litha, the High Priestess lit the candles of blessing (one each for physical healing, spiritual healing, prosperity, relationships and special wishes). Next came the small feast. Our Squire passed out the chalices (each member has their own, and the guest got plastic stemmed glasses) the High Priestess blessed the wine (pink lemonade), the High Priest blessed the cakes (fresh picked strawberries) and the Teacher blessed the tokens (empowered stones). The high Priestess started at the north of the circle, pouring a bit of "wine into each participant's chalice, followed by the High Priest with the plate of "cakes" the Squire followed with a bowl of Dark Chocolate dipping sauce for an added bit of fun, then the Teacher gave each person a token.

The circle ended with the farewells to the Deities, then the adults saying the thank yous and goodbyes to the elements. Our High Priestess opened the circle and grounded the power which allowed us to disperse and continue our games and socializing not to mention visiting the dessert table. There was a sheet tacked by the dessert table with the types of stones passed out as tokens and their magical uses so everyone could find out what message the gods had for them.

Our very youngest guests tended to wind down and fall asleep, their parents packed them into car seats and quiet goodbyes were made. The older children and adults stayed long over desert and coffees. As the sun started to set we all gathered on the highest point of the property to wish the sun farewell and sing him to rest ending with the traditional "merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again".

The fire pit was a favorite gathering place long into the night, with marshmallows and tall tales all around. It was after midnight before we headed back to the house, with a couple of die-hards staying to tend the coals and be sure the fire was all the way out.

Those who were not working the next day, stayed over to help with the clean up and to get things back in order for every day life. Although this was not a "typical" ritual we had a wonderful time and we will gather again at Lammas.