Litha 1997 Newsletter Litha - The Summer Solstice

This year the Summer Solstice will occur on the 22nd December. It is the longest day of the year and symbolises the full strength of the Sun. The Solstice is also called Litha, or Midsummer. The Sun god has now come into full maturity. The word 'solstice' derives from the Latin term meaning 'sun stood still'. The days will now start to get shorter as the sun starts to make it's decent for winter, where it will be at it's lowest at the Winter Solstice.

Traditionally, Litha was a high summer tribal assembly of feasting and partying, a time for celebrating familial peace and plentitude something that I'm sure we will all appreciate happens around this time of year.

In Australia we feel the true strength and intensity of the sun. Our native trees are waiting for the heat of the sun and intensity of the fire to stimulate seed germination. It is a time when we look around and see that most of life is dry, but there is still that inkling of new life that is waiting for the spark to set it on it's way. (Take note of fire bans in your area and if you are using a flame in your cauldron, make sure there is no danger of sparks flying, and that your flame is well and truly out at the end of your ritual.)

Making flower headdresses is a traditional activity for the Solstice, with wreathes of sacred plants and herbs hung on houses for good luck and prosperity.

In literature, the Solstice is associated with Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, when fairies with their magic play are the leading characters interacting with the human world. In folklore it is believed that the Summer Solstice is a time when fairies would bestow good luck on humans. An old ritual was to place food out in the garden for the fairies, who would then sometimes leaves crystals as a token of thanks.