By Shira G. Tarantino
Ushering in Midsummer
Litha is a holiday celebrated by many Pagans. An esbat (minor holiday), Litha goes by many names, such as Summer Solstice and Midsummer. Later when the Church overruled rural Pagan holidays, Litha became known as Saint John's Day. It is the longest day of the year. Its opposite on the Wheel of Life is Yule, or Winter Solstice.
June's full moon is called the "Honey Moon" because this is the time to collect the honey from the beehives. The honeymoon, as we now know it, is the sweet time following the unions made on Beltaine. Mead is an excellent brew made from honey, and is the traditional drink of Summer Solstice.
Litha is a day for the fairies. The bright sun highlights the wings of the Hidden Ones and the honeybees, captivating us as they twinkle and flutter. Aptly nicknamed Midsummer, Litha marks the actual middle of the Celtic summer, falling between Beltaine and Lugnasadh (the first harvest). We celebrate Litha for the warmth that has been bestowed upon us as we usher in the second half of the year. As the sun reaches its apex in the sky, after the height of summer, the days grow shorter and we say farewell to the sun.
On Litha we re-tell the story of the Oak King vs. the Holly King: After a heated battle, the Oak King, who rules the warm, waxing half of the year, finally gives way to his winter counterpart, the Holly King, who rules the waning half of the year. We attend summer festivals and fairs; we mask ourselves as Sun Goddesses and Gods, fairies and Green Men, emulating their sacred images on this special day.
Litha is a holiday celebrated by many Pagans. An esbat (minor holiday), Litha goes by many names, such as Summer Solstice and Midsummer. Later when the Church overruled rural Pagan holidays, Litha became known as Saint John's Day. It is the longest day of the year. Its opposite on the Wheel of Life is Yule, or Winter Solstice.
June's full moon is called the "Honey Moon" because this is the time to collect the honey from the beehives. The honeymoon, as we now know it, is the sweet time following the unions made on Beltaine. Mead is an excellent brew made from honey, and is the traditional drink of Summer Solstice.
Litha is a day for the fairies. The bright sun highlights the wings of the Hidden Ones and the honeybees, captivating us as they twinkle and flutter. Aptly nicknamed Midsummer, Litha marks the actual middle of the Celtic summer, falling between Beltaine and Lugnasadh (the first harvest). We celebrate Litha for the warmth that has been bestowed upon us as we usher in the second half of the year. As the sun reaches its apex in the sky, after the height of summer, the days grow shorter and we say farewell to the sun.
On Litha we re-tell the story of the Oak King vs. the Holly King: After a heated battle, the Oak King, who rules the warm, waxing half of the year, finally gives way to his winter counterpart, the Holly King, who rules the waning half of the year. We attend summer festivals and fairs; we mask ourselves as Sun Goddesses and Gods, fairies and Green Men, emulating their sacred images on this special day.
Photographs by Tricia Fountaine http://www.fancyhouseroad.com/2011/02/23/a-midsummer-nights-dream-wedding/
RSS Feed
