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SUMMER SOLSTICE / MIDSUMMER
The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year. In
northern European lore, the Summer Solstice marks the battle
between the Oak King and Holly King, figures representing the
waxing and waning forces of Nature. On the day of the Summer
Solstice the Holly King defeats his brother the Oak King. Even
though this is the longest day of the year, the days begin to
grow shorter from this time forward.
In southern Europe, groups such as the Benandanti enacted
ritual battles. Fennel and sorghum stalks were used as symbols
of light and darkness in a battle over the fertility of crops
and herds. In Italian Witchcraft the Summer Solstice is the
celebration of the anticipation of plenty, the bounty of Nature
and the coming of the harvest season. In many modern Celtic
based Traditions of Wicca/Witchcraft the Summer Solstice
festival is called Litha. The word litha is derived from the
Anglo-Saxon word lida, which means moon.
Some commentators have suggested that "aerra lida"
corresponded to the month of June in the Anglo-Saxon calendar,
while "aefterra lida" corresponded to July. Some modern
Celtic-oriented Wiccans believe that Litha was actually the
ancient name of the Summer Solstice although there is no
historical evidence to confirm this. In the popular fictional
work titled The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, the author
uses the word Lithe to denote Midsummer's Day. In modern Wicca
the use of the word Litha for the name for the Summer Solstice
first publicly appears in the late 1970's in such works as the
Spiral Dance by Starhawk.
The eve of the Summer Solstice is a night of celebration for
the Faery Folk because they are of a lunar nature, and the
Summer Solstice marks the beginning of the sun's decline in the
Wheel of the Year. What we are seeing here is an archaic remnant
of older rites (and concepts) that existed before the rise of
agrarian society.
St. John's Wort has been, since ancient Greek times, believed
to possess the power to banish evil spirits and to protect
against harmful magic. It's interesting to note that the
Christianized name for the Summer Solstice is St. John's Day (or
Festival). The old belief held that the Faery Folk blessed St.
John's Wort during their rites, and the herb could then be
harvested on the morning of the Summer Solstice. This required
one cutting stroke, and one only. The harvester was not to look
back over his or her shoulder (particularly not the left one)
and could then leave the area after collecting the herbs (but no
cutting could be taken where any Faery Ring stood or where even
any solitary mushrooms appeared). The harvested herb was then
placed over the door of the home, upon the hearth mantle, or was
carried in a pouch until the next Summer Solstice (when it could
be renewed).
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