by Jess Howe

Created on: June 12, 2008   Last Updated: August 21, 2008

The summer solstice is all about water and sun, so its rituals are tailored to meet that. "Summer is a'cumin' in," was written as a celebration of this time, for instance. Even non-Wiccans look to summer as a time of passion, for getting outdoors, for enjoying the good weather. Did you know that Midsummer used to fall on the Fourth of July, till the calendar was changed? Don't those brilliant lights in the sky make you think of summer?

A very common name for Midsummer is the Feast of St. John. Some say it's because he was born six months before Christ; others say it's due to the fact he lost his head on Midsummer. St. John baptized people with water, a rite that is still seen today in many Christian sects wherein the baby - or adult - is dunked several times. There are many symbols associated with St. John, among them sheep and bees, as he is the patron of both. Mead, made from honey, is still a popular drink in much of Europe and America. Sometimes the full moon in June is even called the Mead Moon!

The solstice is also called Herb Day. This is due to the fact that Wiccans tend to gather herbs at this time of the year. There is a belief that such herbs will be the most potent. Among the herbs ready for picking at this time is St. John's Wort, which gives a person a nice calm feeling. You can also pick flowers: Sunflowers are a perfect decoration at this time.

The altar, in fact, is decorated with bright colors, and often dried herbs and flowers are placed upon it. Decorating the faucets of the house is a good idea, maybe with some seashells or something golden to celebrate the gift of water. If you put together a wreath of red and yellow feathers or flowers and twine it with ivy, that makes a good piece for doors.

Wiccans are celebrating both the pregnant Mother and the Sun God who is young and vibrant now. Jumping over bonfires to renew energy is a popular activity. However, the Sun God being so bright at this time can tire a person out. The weather's just starting to be hot, after all. So many Wiccans honor water around this time, because it is so helpful to them with regards to him. You can't retain your vitality, after all, without it! Irish girls, for instance, used to put a lump of lead in a stream to find out their marriage fortunes, while you could sing to Mannannan, god of the sea, in the shower.

There's also re-dedication to your art. Gather the energy of the Sun in your mirror and meditate on it, for instance. Put wreaths of flowers and shells on your altar, after purifying yourself with a rosemary-scented bath. Purify your house by walking around it three times each with incense, water and salt. Blessings and protection spells are often done at this time for the Wiccan's pets, who you could also include in these rituals.

Foods for Midsummer follow fire and water symbolism. For one thing, you could have a fresh salad of greens gathered that day (or bought). Mead is a good drink for the feast but so are juices of many kinds. Orange juice or anything citrus is especially good, as is water itself. You could have a flaming pudding, to celebrate the sun. You could also have pasta with alfredo sauce plus chopped clams, to celebrate the sea. Make it truly a feast, decorating the table with more flowers and shells, maybe some roses in the center.

For Wiccans, Midsummer is a time to celebrate both what we have and what we will have. It is perhaps the most optimistic festival of them all!

http://www.thepaganweb.com/litha.html
http://www. wicca.com/celtic/akasha/litha.htm
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Litha
http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/mid summer.html

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