How to Celebrate Litha

It's the time of year when the days are long, the sun kisses your face, and the heat envelops you. Flowers are taking bloom, the soil beneath your feet is warm, and you can feel the heat in your bones. So what time of year is this? Summer, of course! Not only a time of heat, but also a time of celebration. Litha, an old pagan holiday, is celebrated at this time of year.

Litha (LEE-tha) is also known as the Summer Solstice, Midsummer, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Alban Hefin, and St. John's Day. It is an old pagan holiday that is the opposite of Yule, and it's purpose is to celebrate light overcoming darkness. Litha is celebrated on the longest day of the year, which is usually around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere and around December 21st in the Southern Hemisphere. Although it is a holiday of pagan origins, it can be celebrated by anyone of any religion that wants to show appreciation for Earth, nature, and the Sun.

There are many ways to celebrate Litha! You can have a party with many people, celebrate with a small group of friends or family, or even celebrate alone. Here are some ways to celebrate:

• Build a Litha bonfire. This holiday celebrates the Sun, so it is a fire holiday. Build a bonfire! Toss traditional herbs in it such as lavender,mint, sage, St. John's Wort, etc.
• Make an altar. Give it a theme of orange, red, yellow, and gold. Have candles and an altar cloth of these colors, something to represent the sun, and decorate it with flowers (specifically things such as St. John's Wort, lavender, chamomile, ivy, rose, mugwort, honeysuckle, etc.).
• Jump over a small fire. There is an old Litha tradition of jumping over a fire. If you successfully make it over there is luck for the upcoming year. Couples also often do this holding hands for luck as a couple.
• Have a handfasting ceremony. If you have a couple that is to be wed or is already wed and wants to have a representation of their souls' bond, this is the perfect time to do it. Handfasting is a ceremony where the hands of the two lovers are tied together and they say a vow to one another.
• Gather flowers. They're in bloom! Just make sure to thank Mother Earth for the gift.
• Say reasons you love the Sun. If you have a group of people, go around in a circle having everyone say one reason they appreciate the sun. If you are alone, make a list and read it to the Sun.
• Watch the sunset. This is the longest day of the year, appreciate it to it's end!
• Go for a hike. Isn't this one of the best times to appreciate nature?
• Look for faeries. There are myths, legends, and even Shakespearean stories that say Midsummer is a time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. Use this to seek the Fae!
• Have a feast! This is when produce is fresh. Take advantage of that!
• Make Litha art. Paint and draw pictures that represent Litha! The sunrise, the sunset, faeries, dragons, and flowers are all things that can be made to honor the holiday.
• Do crafts! Some good crafts for this celebration include Witch's Ladders, Solar Wheels, God's Eyes of yellow and orange, and dream pillows.
• Have fun in the water! It's hot out, there's no doubt about this, so cool off. Have fun in the heat with water guns, sprinklers, water balloons, or even a pool party.
• Get rid of your troubles. Have everyone write down some troubles from the year on a piece of paper and toss it in the fire!
• Plant a garden. Give back to the Earth that gives to you every day!
• Make music. This is a great time for celebration and creativity!
• Make crowns of flowers. Wear them throughout the day along with bright summer colors!
• Tell stories and poetry. There are many stories and poems surrounding Litha. Look them up and have a time of storytelling, maybe around the fire after night has fallen and the day is gone.

There are many plants, animals, mythical beings, gods, goddesses, and more that are symbols of Litha. Here are some of them!

Gods: Father Sun/Sky, Oak King, Holly King, Arthur (Gods are at there peak of strength at this time)

Goddesses: Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Aphrodite, Venus, Yemaya, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, Green Forest Mother, Great One of the Stars, Goddess of the Wells, and all Goddesses of love, passion, lust, pregnancy, beauty, and the sea.

Colors: Mostly sun-related colors such as red, yellow, orange, and gold but also colors such as blue and green.

Plants: St. John's Wort, lavender, chamomile, rose, oak blossoms, lily, fennel, elder, mistletoe, hemp, thyme, heather, yarrow, oak trees, holly trees, nettle, larkspur, vervain, wisteria, heartsease, anise, mugwort, and rue.

Incense: saffron, frankincense. sandalwood, pine, mint, lavender, lemon, rose, cinnamon, wisteria, orange, and heliotrope.

Foods: honey, lemons, oranges, fresh vegetables, summer fruits, ale, mead, faerie cakes, sunflower cookies, carrot drinks, sunflower seeds, pumpernickel bread, and summer squash.

Gemstones: diamond, tiger's eye, lapis lazuli, emerald, jade, and pretty much all green gemstones.

Magicks/Rituals: love, protection, divination, contact with the Fae, rites of inspiration, handfasting, and rededication of faith.

So, I hope this was helpful to those who desire to celebrate the Summer Solstice! Have a joyous Litha and blessed be!