Summer Solstice

Hello Everyone,

I hope you enjoyed my last post.
This post we will be looking at the Summer Solstice, folk lore, traditions and new concepts of this midsummer pagan festival.

Solstice, or Litha means a stopping or standing still of the sun. It is the longest day of the year and the time when the sun is at its maximum elevation.
Sumer Solstice lands on the 21st/22nd and sometimes 23rd of June, gracing us with the shortest day of the year. Many Neo Pagans celebrate this time of year with various rituals, camps and public ceremonies.

The Earliest Midsummer festivals were that of the Celts who worshipped the sun god Belinos. They would light fires to add energy to Belinos and honour him.

The Norse also celebrated midsummer when the goddess Sol is at the height of her power. Again the lighting of fire was the main focus of this time of year for the Norse. Also using the runes and honouring the god Tyr and goddess Sol.

In the 1900's, Druids have been welcoming the sun at dawn of the solstice at Stonehenge and various stone circles to this present day.

Golowan is the Cornish Language word for the Midsummer celebrations in Cornwall, UK: widespread prior to the late 19th century and most popular in the Penwith area and in particular Penzance and Newlyn. The celebrations were conducted from 23 June (St John's Eve) to 28 June (St Peter's Eve) each year, St Peter's Eve being the more popular in Cornish fishing communities. The celebrations were centred on the lighting of bonfires and fireworks and the performance of associated rituals. The midsummer bonfire ceremonies (Tansys Golowan in Cornish) were revived at St Ives in 1929 by the Old Cornwall Society and since then spread to other societies across Cornwall, as far as Kit Hill near Callington. Since 1991 the Golowan festival in Penzance has revived many of these ancient customs and has grown to become a major arts and culture festival: its central event 'Mazey Day' now attracts tens of thousands of people to the Penzance area in late June.
( Image Copyright The Druid Grove of Bega)

Also The Morris Men would dance at solstice festivals to awaken the ancestors to be with all at this special time as the land becomes betwixt and the veil thins due the days being long and nights so short. The betwixt twilight hours last longer at this time of year because of this and folk magic practitioners believe that the veil is thinnest when the land is betwixt and the ancestors and spirits you invite are more powerful.

I hope you found this article interesting and hope all have a wonderful solstice. Many types of ritual will take place at this time of year. Gatherings and celebrations of summer with traditional festivals possibly in your area. local fetes and fairs happen at this time of year too. Whatever you do to celebrate this time of year remember stay safe and have fun.

Sigrid Skadi


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