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Litha

Summer Solstice Holiday of Sunshine & Spirit

The Summer Solstice has arrived and marks the longest day of the year with the sun seemingly sitting still in the sky!  The word “solstice” comes from the Latin word solstitium, which translates as the “sun stands still.”  In 2022, it falls on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.  In 2023, it will fall on June 21 on the Northern Hemisphere and on December 22 in the Southern Hemisphere. Litha (pronounced LEE-tha or LIE-tha) is a holiday that recognizes and celebrates this time of year and is also known as Midsummer Night’s Eve, Midsummer, or just Summer Solstice.  Many Wiccans, Pagans, Witches, and those of all (or no) belief systems celebrate this time of the year in various ways!  So let’s have some fun in exploring these different ways to celebrate this time of year with the most amount of sunlight!

Table of Contents

    What is Litha?

    Litha marks the time of year when the Sun is present for the longest amount of time in the year.  As the bright Sun remains high in the sky, this holiday marks the pinnacle power of the Solar God, or the Oak King.  If you remember my post on Beltane, that holiday was all about the equality of femininity and masculinity, engagement, and passion.  Well, Litha is more somber, or milder in comparison and celebrates the God and the pregnant Goddess’s marriage, which was promised back in Beltane.  This holiday is also associated with the Goddess Epona, who is the protector of hoof stock, including horses, mules, and donkeys.  Litha is all about things that the Sun gives us with the first day of Summer, such as growing crops and themes such as life and abundance.  You can find a lot of imagery of various plants and animals that recognize the themes and messages surrounding Litha.  As a result, many Pagans celebrate by having festivals and lighting bonfires (a common theme for Spring and Summer holidays) to bring luck and protection for the upcoming harvest.  Also, many throw garlands of herbs onto the bonfire flames in honor of the Sun God and Queen Mab.  Many modern-day people also hold a feast to recognize the Summer Solstice and the long days with warmer weather.  

    On a more Magical note, Litha is one of the few times of year where the veil between this world and the Magical World will be thin.  Many Magic practitioners conduct spells to lay out protection from Magical spirits or creatures, especially Fairies.  With the longest day of the year will come the shortest night of the year.  Thus, it’s a great night to hold a vigil by watching and waiting for the Sun to rise.  If you “hold steady” or show patience and the spirit of the season, you can gain control over Magic and hold more power within you.  However, there is a risk if you try because Fairies are known to whisk you away or cause madness.  Thus, having a few protection crystals, stones, or spells on hand may be helpful if you’re determined to possibly gain these new strengths.  Litha only lasts a couple days, at the most.  After the Summer Solstice, the God’s strength will start to fade and then the Holly King will gain full strength of power at the Autumn Equinox (the holiday of Mabon).  

    Welcoming Summer Throughout Time

    The Summer Solstice was celebrated throughout time and within many, many, many cultures and peoples.  Ancient Pagans took note of other Midsummer holidays, too.  Panathenaia was an Ancient Greek Midsummer holiday that celebrated Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War.  In Ancient Rome, Vestalia was a holiday around June 9th that honored Vesta, the Goddess of Hearth Fire, Home, and Family.  The Ancient Romans also held feasts to honor Juno, the Goddess who was the Protector and Special Counselor of the State.  In Guatemala, there was an ancient Mayan city where archaeologists discovered an astronomical observatory.  During the Summer Solstice, the buildings would be aligned with the Sun and the people would gather as their King would command and talk to the Heavens.  So the recognition and celebration of this special time of year still carries on today in some shape or form.

    Symbolism

    There are a ton of symbols that represent the Summer Solstice holiday of Litha.  Since this is one of the few times of year where the veil between our world and the magic world becomes thin, it is a time of gems, herbs, crystals, flowers, etc., that provide magical properties.  For example, herbs, such as St. John’s Worst during this time will have its power enhanced and will help bring you luck.  Crystals and Stones associated with this holiday will bring extra magical power, such as having Moonstone for inner peace, protection, and harmony.  Below is a chart that provides an overview of the holiday’s symbolism:

    How to Celebrate

    • Get up early to watch the Sun rise!  If staying up overnight is not an option for whatever reason, you can get up early to watch the Sun rise and start its longest journey across the sky.
    • Enjoy fresh fruits!  Eat some Summer fruits and vegetables since they’re at their prime.  Strawberries and strawberry-based foods and treats are popular ways to celebrate Litha!  Honey is also a wonderful idea since it reflects the sweetness of the season and is an ingredient used to make mead.
    • Light a rose-scented candle while reflecting and giving thanks for the successes and joy you’ve experienced since Winter.
    • Light a bonfire!  Bonfires represent the heat and brightness of the Sun during Litha.  Many people leap over the bonfire (like on Beltane).  Some say that the highest leap will reflect the height of your crops this coming harvest.  Also, if you have a wreath of flowers, toss them into the fire in celebration.
    • Hold an overnight vigil.  Since the night is at its shortest, this would be a great time to do it!
    • Harvest herbs!  You can go gather herbs that peak during the Summer Solstice.  St. John’s Wort, rue, roses, vervain, and trefoil are great choices!  Just please be careful of wildcrafting so you don’t harm any future plants’ growth.  So only take what you need that won’t harm the other plants.  
    • Spend time in an herb garden.  If you have an herb garden or know of a place, you can enjoy the boost of Midsummer’s energy and spend some time there.  
    • Start a new relationship, get engaged, or get married!  Litha and the Summer Solstice is considered an auspicious time to begin new stages of relationships. 
    • For crafts, you can make a dream pillow!  Some people use mugwort to make a dream pillow to sleep on, which is designed to help prevent nightmares and bring about insightful dreams.  But if you do not have mugwort, you can simply make a pillow with the same intention.  Some people make different sachets or small bags to put under their pillow.  If you don’t want to do that, you can put any Summer- or Litha-themed plants under your pillow to wish for good dreams.
    • Decorate your altar with flowers if you have one.  Have an abundance of your fresh, local summer flowers so your home can feel full of bright light that the Sun and Nature have to offer.
    • Create a flower wreath covered with flowers and greenery of the Summer Season.  This includes honeysuckle, roses, lavender, St. John’s Wort, rue, and others!  You can also include Litha’s colors of yellow, gold, green, and purple!  You can hang it on your door or place it in your home so you can enjoy the beauty of Summer. 
    • If you want a fun summer trip, visit Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.  During the pandemic, they held a livestream of the time from sunrise to sunset so you can see the Solstice Sun travel through the landmark’s stones.  Check online to see if it’ll still be available!
    • Do some Magic or Spells!  It’s actually one of the best times of the year to do Spells for Protection or Love.

    Do you do anything special for the Summer Solstice?  If so, how do you celebrate?  Many cultures around the world do different things for this time of year when daylight is at its longest.  What are your thoughts on Litha or celebrating this longest day of the year?  Please let me know in the comments for I would love to read them!  Thank you, my friends, for reading this post and I wish you all a Blessed Litha!

    “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

    – Robin Williams (as John Keating in Dead Poets Society)

    • Image Captions (in order of appearance):
    • Symbols of the Celtic calendar, names in Celtic of the solstices. Image courtesy of Shutterstock user robin.ph; not for commercial use.  Signed property release on file with Shutterstock, Inc.
    • Beautiful seascape and cloudy weather. Image courtesy of Unsplash user engin akyurt; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Unsplash Inc.
    • Beautiful pregnant woman figure, symbol of triple goddess, moon phases. Image courtesy of Shutterstock user paw; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Shutterstock, Inc.
    • Beautiful Fairy in White Dress. Image courtesy of Pexels user Tú Nguyễn; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Pexels GmbH.
    • Vienna, Austria. Image courtesy of Unsplash user Jeremy Bezanger; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Unsplash Inc.
    • Yellow flowers of St.John’s wort. Image courtesy of Unsplash user Lex Melony; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Unsplash Inc.
    • Mountain Rays. Image courtesy of Unsplash user Lucas Ludwig; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Unsplash Inc.

    • References (in alphabetical order):
    • The pagan grimoire. The Pagan Grimoire. (2021). Retrieved 2022, from https://www.pagangrimoire.com/
    • Van de Car, Nikki. Practical Magic: A Beginner’s Guide to Crystals, Horoscopes, Psychics, and Spells. Running Press, 2017. 
    • Willow. (2022, August 23). Flying the Hedge. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.flyingthehedge.com/ 

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