The Summer Solstice
Today is the Summer Solstice, also known as Midsummer or Litha. It is the longest day of the year and one of the Great Sabbatts. There is much that can be said about this Sabbatt, and much already has. However, since this day has felt every bit like the longest day of the year, I am tired, and as a result you folks might end up feeling a little short changed.
As has already been indicated in prior postings, the Great Sabbatts fall on the four points of the cycle of the sun. As such, the Summer Solstice falls on or about the 21st of June. It is almost always on the 21st, but it can fall between the 20th and 22nd.
Litha celebrates the God and the power of the sun. In fact, while both are always to be considered, the Greater Sabbatts tend to focus more on the God and the Lesser Sabbatts on the Goddess. A confusing terminology to many fluffbunnies and Wicca 101 students. If asked, and quite possibly if not, I will delve into this more in the future.
While referred to as Midsummer, depending on geography this is misleading. For many, we aren't in the middle of summer at all. Where I sit, and in most of the states, summer is just beginning. Still, the season is not as much of an issue here as the position of the sun, which is more static, at least in regards to our hemisphere.
One of the most popular traditions of both Solstices are the various myths of the battle between brothers. Now would be the time when the darker brother wins, and holds power until the lighter brother returns to conquer him at the time of the Winter Solstice. Some legends in association with this are of the Oak King and the Holly King, and of Jesus and John the Baptist. Well the latter doesn't necessarily fit for the traditional roles, but the early church tried to make them do so by celebrating the dates of their birth around the two Solstices.
While these myths can be fun, and the re-enactments of the epic battle at many Solstice parties can be hilarious, they are just myths. I have not ever met anyone who actually believe that these entities exist and do battle. Rather, it is the persona, and the impact of the course of the sun. Similar to the waxing and the waning of the moon, we almost see a waxing and waning of the sun over a longer period of time.
Most Litha rituals involve the outdoors and lots of food. Picnics are the most common, combining the two. Much like any other picnic, more attention is paid to eating, socializing and having fun than any solemnities. Many don't practice much of any ritual on the Summer Solstice, since this marks the God at his peak, and so many prefer to ignore Him in favor of the Goddess. However it is all intertwined and it is all one.
I tend to do little other than a short blessing and giving of thanks on this day, as the enjoyment of the sun is much better than the formalities. Think about it. On father's day, would a dad rather the kid stand and recite a long drawn out poem about how great he is, or that the kid play catch with him in the back yard?
Eat, drink and be merry is very much the creed of today. And so the seasons pass, and we move on with life, or something close to it.
As has already been indicated in prior postings, the Great Sabbatts fall on the four points of the cycle of the sun. As such, the Summer Solstice falls on or about the 21st of June. It is almost always on the 21st, but it can fall between the 20th and 22nd.
Litha celebrates the God and the power of the sun. In fact, while both are always to be considered, the Greater Sabbatts tend to focus more on the God and the Lesser Sabbatts on the Goddess. A confusing terminology to many fluffbunnies and Wicca 101 students. If asked, and quite possibly if not, I will delve into this more in the future.
While referred to as Midsummer, depending on geography this is misleading. For many, we aren't in the middle of summer at all. Where I sit, and in most of the states, summer is just beginning. Still, the season is not as much of an issue here as the position of the sun, which is more static, at least in regards to our hemisphere.
One of the most popular traditions of both Solstices are the various myths of the battle between brothers. Now would be the time when the darker brother wins, and holds power until the lighter brother returns to conquer him at the time of the Winter Solstice. Some legends in association with this are of the Oak King and the Holly King, and of Jesus and John the Baptist. Well the latter doesn't necessarily fit for the traditional roles, but the early church tried to make them do so by celebrating the dates of their birth around the two Solstices.
While these myths can be fun, and the re-enactments of the epic battle at many Solstice parties can be hilarious, they are just myths. I have not ever met anyone who actually believe that these entities exist and do battle. Rather, it is the persona, and the impact of the course of the sun. Similar to the waxing and the waning of the moon, we almost see a waxing and waning of the sun over a longer period of time.
Most Litha rituals involve the outdoors and lots of food. Picnics are the most common, combining the two. Much like any other picnic, more attention is paid to eating, socializing and having fun than any solemnities. Many don't practice much of any ritual on the Summer Solstice, since this marks the God at his peak, and so many prefer to ignore Him in favor of the Goddess. However it is all intertwined and it is all one.
I tend to do little other than a short blessing and giving of thanks on this day, as the enjoyment of the sun is much better than the formalities. Think about it. On father's day, would a dad rather the kid stand and recite a long drawn out poem about how great he is, or that the kid play catch with him in the back yard?
Eat, drink and be merry is very much the creed of today. And so the seasons pass, and we move on with life, or something close to it.
posted by Wanderer at 10:00 PM
4 Comments:
I'm confused by your highly technical terminology... "fluffbunnies"
:-)
thought of you yesterday.
interesting story about the two brothers, since the Navajo have almost the exact same story.
we have too much of the sun here in New Mexico. the sky isn't even blue anymore. it looks burnt out. there is haze from pollution, the mines, and forset fires, even in the rural areas. it is infact mid summer for us. We are 6 weeks into summer vacation, the temperature is in the 90's and 100's. there is a place out here called Chaco Canyon where there are ancient anazazi ruins, where pagans, wiccans and new agers gather for the solstices and night sky viewing. I've only been there during the day with the rest of the tourists.
I worked the summer solstice and it was an easy day at work
PeppyLady - I worked the Solstice too, hence the comment about it feeling like the longest day of the year.
MaryEllen - That is the interesting thing, most cultures have some story like that. Just like the flood story being found in so many cultures. It is an interesting thing to compare how close many of these different cultures and belief systems come to each other's stories.
Cindy - A "fluffbunny", basically, is someone who practices the religion without a real interest in the belief system, or without a willingness to delve beneath the surface to better understand. In this category are the Wiccans who are so simply to rebel against their parents. Those who think it fits well with their goth persona. Those who think calling themselves a witch is cool. Those who think the ability to cast love spells or hex each other is even cooler. I could go on, but I think that you get the idea.
Post a Comment
<< Home