Midsummer
21st December

What images do you conjure up when someone mentions midsummer? I think of still, hot days with the sun beating down on me. I think of bees buzzing through glorious flowers, of cool drinks by lakes and streams and balmy nights spent next to open fires in the company of those I love. I find midsummer one of those magical times where I could almost step through the veil of worlds into the land of Faerie, and not mind that so much. I imagine I could meet friends there, even those who live 12,000 miles away in another hemisphere, and be so free and relaxed about everything.

Midsummer is also known as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year (and the shortest night), the ultimate victory over darkness. We celebrate this on the evening of the 21st usually. I enjoy getting up at the crack of dawn on that day and not wasting one minute of light. Then a bonfire and another celebration to top off the day is called for. However being a full-time worker doesn't always make this possible (it would if we could be recognised as a religious group and have our Sabbats and Esbats off as religious holidays, though). So I do the best I can. There are all sorts of flowers and herbs associated with the Solstice, such as vervain, and drinks such as mead, and surrounding your altar with all of these is a good way to honour the Goddess and the God on this magical day that is the start of the Wheel's turn back towards winter. That sounds a little depressing but summer lasts for a lot longer than just to the Solstice and here in the Southern hemisphere it's longer still.

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