Wheel of the Year: Litha, the Summer Solstice

It’s summertime, and the living is…hot and steamy! Time seems to slow down, the days grow longer, and the sun is the main event every day. Enter one of the very warmest pagan holidays: Litha.

Throughout history, the arrival of the sunny season reassured people of ancient cultures that the cycle of life would continue. Summer solstice, or Midsummer, grew out of the worship and veneration of the gods and goddesses of the sun, who were believed to benevolently give the power of life.

Where Beltane marked the beginning of the fertile season, where partners reflected the rite of the Great Marriage between the Celtic Goddess and God, Midsummer sees the Goddess as heavy with child. Symbolically, these traditions mirror the sprouting and growth of abundant crops.

Today, as in the past, the holiday focuses on the joy, abundance, and good health brought about by the Sun. 

• In the Wheel of the Year, the Summer Solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year, this year on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. The Oak King, who is said to rule from Yule to Litha, gives reign to the Holly King, who carries us back to Yule (Winter Solstice).
• As with Beltane, bonfires often take center stage during Litha, with the intent of honoring the Sun and asking for its blessings.
• Handfastings, the traditional year-and-a-day binding of couples, are also important during Midsummer. This has carried over into modern times, with the month of June considered good luck for weddings and similar unions.
• The colors of Litha are bright and rich, like summer trees and flowers; foods featuring honey, strawberry, and elder are abundant, along with mead and light wines. Decorate with floral wreaths and serve honey-sweetened cakes and teas.