Category: Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice: The Meaning and History Behind the First Day of Summer
The summer solstice sets off the official start of summer as the Northern Hemisphere angles itself at the point in its orbit closest to the sun, causing the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year.
Many cultures, both ancient and modern, celebrate the sunlight with rituals and holidays.
What is the summer solstice?
The term solstice comes from the Latin words “sol” (sun) and “stitium” (still or stopped). It is used to describe the exact moment when the poles are tilted at their maximum toward or away from the sun.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, which is the circle marking the latitude 23.5 degrees north, and which runs through …
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Happy Litha
From all of us at WOTC may you and your family have a blessed Litha!
Summer starts for the northern hemisphere on June 21, 2023 at 9:57 AM CDT.
As The Holly King is Reborn…
From all of us at WOTC we wish you a blessed and happy Litha/Summer Solstice. May your days be brighter and full of positive energy!
For Your Viewing Pleasure – Summer Solstice vs. Winter Solstice: Side-by-Side Time-lapse 2017
Summer Solstice vs. Winter Solstice: Side-by-Side Time-lapse
Synchronized side-by-side time-lapse of the summer solstice and winter solstice from Manchester, UK, at the latitude of 53.5°N. Music: Discovery One Orbits Jupiter by TeknoAXE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGH5G…)
© Scott Richards 2017 •
Happy Litha Blessings
Litha/Summer Solstice Correspondences
From FlyingTheHedge.com – Litha Correspondences
Symbolism: life, fire, rebirth, transformation, power, purity
Symbols: sun flowers, leaves, sword, spear, sun, God’s eye, sun wheels, bonfire, balefires, fire, sun dials, bird feathers, seashells,
Colors: red, gold, orange, yellow, white, green, blue
Food and Drink: mead, ale, summer fruits and vegetables, strawberries, honey cakes, whipped cream, oranges, lemons, summer squash, honey
Herbs: Saint John’s Wort, lavender, rose, peony, vervain, mugwort, chamomile, chickweed, chicory, sun flower, lily, thyme, hemp, fennel, nettle, wisteria, rue, fern, heather, oak, yarrow, holly
Deities: Ra, Bast, Helios, Oak King, Fotuna, Arinna, and other sun god.
Crystals and Gemstones: Lapis, diamond, tiger’s eye, emerald, jade, and other green stones
Animals: butterflies, wren, horse, stag, robin, cattle, phoenix, dragon, faeries, satyrs
Magic: Litha is the time to celebrate the Sun and all that he provides for us. Protection spells and fire magic are great to perform on this night. Make protective amulets to be empowered in the balefire lit on Midsummer’s eve. Looking to promote a transformation, a new career, or create a new or strengthen an old relationship? Litha is a great night to perform such magic. Collect herbs, especially St. John’s Wort, on the eve of this sabbat to bring luck and enhance the herbs’ power. Renew your wedding vows or just enjoy the time with your friends and family. This is also a great time to communicate with faeries and seek their help if you so wish. Be careful though. Faeries can be tricky.
Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. If I have missed something that you feel should make the list, please feel free to contact me via the comments or through email. Willow
Summer Solstice Printable Coloring Pages
Celebrate Summer Solstice and Connect With Nature Through These Rituals
After a long and seriously unforgiving winter, folks in the Northern Hemisphere are finally reaping the benefits of summer, as June 21 marks the official 2021 summer solstice. Many of us are already marking our calendars with beach days, hikes, and picnics galore — but if you’re looking to tap into the spiritual aspect of the seasonal shift, there are several solstice rituals you can do to welcome summer, in all its glory.
From gifting friends with sachets as a natural mosquito deterrent, to enjoying a seasonal feast of locally-grown goodies, there are so many fun ways to welcome and celebrate summer, sustainably.
Make a suncatcher…
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Printable Games for Children – Summer
Happy and Blessed Summer Solstice
Litha History – Celebrating the Summer Solstice
An Ancient Solar Celebration
Nearly every agricultural society has marked the high point of summer in some way, shape or form. On this date–usually around June 21 or 22 (or December 21/22 in the southern hemisphere)–the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It is the longest day of the year, and the point at which the sun seems to just hang there without moving – in fact, the word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “sun stands still.” The travels of the sun were marked and recorded. Stone circles such as Stonehenge were oriented to highlight the rising of the sun on the day of the summer solstice.
Did You Know?
- Early European traditions celebrated midsummer by setting large wheels on fire and then rolling them down a hill into a body of water.
- The Romans honored this time as sacred to Juno, the wife of Jupiter and goddess of women and childbirth; her name gives us the month of June.
- The word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “sun stands still.”
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December Solstice 2021 – First Day of Summer in Southern Hemisphere
December Solstice marks the arrival of the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere. That’s why in the earth’s southern areas, the December Solstice is known as the Summer Solstice. In 2021, the official first day of summer in Australia (southern hemisphere) will occur on Wednesday, December 22, at sharp 02:59 Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
Not to mention, this astronomical event will also mark the brightest as well as the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. On the other hand, for people living in the northern hemisphere, this solstice marks the arrival of the first day of winter. That’s why in the earth’s northern areas, December Solstice is known as the Winter or Hibernal Solstice. Again, for the people living in the northern half of the earth, this astronomical event will also mark the darkest as well as the shortest day of the year.
Simply speaking, one can say that the meaning of solstice changes depending…
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For Your Viewing Pleasure – Summer Solstice
The Great Gift of Summer Solstice
Let’s Have Some Fun – Southern Hemisphere Litha/Summer Solstice
Magickal Activity for December 21, The Summer Solstice
Floating Candles
Midsummer is a celebration of light and life, symbolized by the flame of a candle and the movement of water. A large glass bowl filled with an assortment of floating candles makes a wonderful point of focus for ritual. Choose bright yellow sunflowers, white lilies, and red tulip-shaped candles. Have each person participating in the ritual inscribe his or her desire, with a pin, on a candle. Have each person come forward, place his or her candle in the bowl and light it as he makes his wish. Following the ritual, the bowl is placed outdoors, and the candles are left to burn out.
The Sun Wheel
One of the most popular symbols of Midsummer is the Sun Wheel, the turning of which suggests the turning, or progression, of the seasons. The Wheel is decorated with flowers, fresh herbs, and brightly colored ribbons.
The simplest method for making a Sun Wheel is to buy an already-prepared natural-branch wreath from an arts and crafts store. Affix small branches of rowan to form the spokes of the wheel (four spokes to represent the elements and cross-quarter days or eight to symbolize the eight Wiccan Sabbats). Use floral wire to attach fresh flowers and herbs to the wreath. Embellish with brightly colored ribbons. The wheel can be used as the focal point for your Midsummer rites or hung on the front door of your home for decoration.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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