| Litha, the summer solstice, or midsummer is a pagan | | | | influenced by the festival's role in the cycle of the God |
| holiday celebrated between June 19-22nd. It is the day | | | | and Goddess. At this time the Goddess is newly with |
| when the sun is at its greatest height which | | | | child, having united and become married to the Sun |
| consequently leads to it being the longest day of the | | | | God at Beltane. So Litha, along with Beltane, became a |
| year. From this point on, the sun will start its descent | | | | very popular occasion for weddings (known as hand |
| and the nights will slowly start to draw in. | | | | fasting) and for celebrating new life. |
| It is also know as a cross quarter day, making it a | | | | So what shape did celebrations take and how can |
| minor holiday for pagans, Wiccans and witches and is | | | | you represent this yourself? It is traditional for girls and |
| situated between its neighbouring fetes of Beltane | | | | women to wear garlands of flowers with St John's |
| (May Day) and Lughnassadh. But with such potential | | | | Wort being the most popular. Customary colours |
| for glorious weather and a balmy, warm evening who | | | | include yellows and gold and bronze to reflect the sun. |
| can resist the charms of a Litha celebration! | | | | The herbs of Litha are mugwort, chamomile, lavender, |
| Traditionally, Litha was the time of year to harvest | | | | fennel, St. John's Wort, vervain and wormwood which |
| your crops as they were believed to be particularly | | | | can be cast and sprinkled onto your bonfire if you are |
| blessed with magical qualities and powers on the | | | | doing dancing or rituals around the flames, or for if you |
| actual evening, or on Litha/Midsummer night's eve. | | | | simply wish to have a quiet moment of contemplation |
| However, to preserve the power of your yield and as | | | | and to make a wish. |
| an offering to the Gods and Goddesses it was | | | | It is also a time of year to present gifts to the God and |
| considered necessary to leave the roots or stems of | | | | Goddess to both honour and thank them for the |
| the plant intact. | | | | bounty you have received in the summer months. It |
| At Litha, also being a fire festival, it was believed you | | | | would have been for a successful harvest in ancient |
| could attract prosperity by jumping over a bonfire | | | | days of old but there is still much to be thankful for in |
| (much like Beltane celebrations) which were lit to ward | | | | our modern times - even if it is just for the simple joy |
| off the evil spirits that were thought to roam freely on | | | | of being able to sit outside and feel the sun on your |
| this evening. In fact the veil between the natural and | | | | face! You may leave gifts of food such as honey, |
| supernatural worlds were considered to be at their | | | | tokens of a more precious nature in ribbons or coins, |
| thinnest and so for extra protection, torches were | | | | or many leave gemstones such as lapis lazuli, tiger's |
| carried after dark and at the end of the celebrations. | | | | eye or jade which all have associations with the spirit |
| Such wicked associations were unfortunately passed | | | | of Litha. Leave your offerings in a place that is special |
| on to witches at this time also, as it became the time | | | | to you and particularly in a place of natural beauty |
| of year when they were to be seen on their way to | | | | such as a pond or wild area of your garden, burning |
| meetings with other evil beings! | | | | some cinnamon or sandalwood incense as you leave |
| But due to the heady and beguiling draw of the hot | | | | it. |
| nights, Litha is of course a time for fertility rites. This is | | | | |