Some of us have adult reading the word ‘Midsummer’ and might have wondered what it meant. Particular calendar’s mark ‘Midsummer’s Eve’ as some time in mid-June, and needless to say there is the Shakespearean play bearing its name, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Midsummer is just a party that has ancient roots, and is continued to-day largely by those who exercise Pagan and Wicca religious paths. Just how do these modern pagans celebrate and understand the midsummer holiday?
At Midsummer, we locate ourselves on the level in the Wheel of the Year when the Sun is at its peak, the summer solstice. It’s the greatest day of the year. Since the summer time usually began on Beltane (May 1 in the Northern Hemisphere), this festival is often called Midsummer. It is also known as Litha.
In the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice falls around June 19-22, although it is between December 20-23 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Midsummer is really a time when much emphasis is on the sun, needless to say. Holy places and many old temples, including Stonehenge, are arranged in that way as to arrange with the position of the sun at summer solstice.
Like Yule, its reverse counterpoint on the Wheel of the Year, Midsummer conjures up designs of the remarkable Oak King, representing the light half of the year, struggling the Holly King, who shows the dark half of the year, when light is waning. day the Holly King will quickly have the upper hand, after although the Oak King are at his top. For the next half a year, light may decrease.
The overall male part, the God, has become recognized as having fulfilled his purpose. Different cultures needless to say observe the Sun God on summer solstice. He was recognized to the historical Celts as company, Lugh and bringer of the crops. Normally, by this point in the year, plants are growing. The Goddess is giving forth her nice bounty too, as Divine Mother Earth. fulfilling her role
Both male and female energies, occasionally represented respectively as earth and sun, have bestowed their presents of creation upon the property. We should recall how the pagan customs arose out of agrarian cultures, and how closely these cultures taken notice of the timings of the seasons; in ancient Europe, people’s lives depended on it.
Development is alive with considerable selection and the love of life at Midsummer. The flower is a powerful image of the Goddess at this time, as roses abound in several parts of the world at this time of year.
Variety and love are in the air at this point in the Wheel of the Year. The plant life and crops have cultivated and are growing, and all is in bloom. The sexy, purely physical love of Beltane, the prior sabbat, has now deepened and matured in to the whole-being embrace of lovers who now know each other well. Therefore, this was usually an occasion of hand-fasting (wedding) ceremonies, which continues to this day with June being the most popular month for weddings (in the Northern Hemisphere ).
Fruits that are ready in your area, roses, and any symptoms of the sun are apropos. , If you need ideas for designing your altar at Midsummer
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More functions once we observe Midsummer include:
Colors: Green and gold largely, also red.
Incense: Rose, violet, fir, plank, tangerine, frangipani and frankincense.
Herbs: E. john’s wort, parsley, basil, mint, violet, dragons blood, thyme, fern, lavender and vervain.
Stone: Emerald.
Since therefore much emphasis is on the sunlight, Midsummer’s Eve fire customs certainly are a common practice. Anywhere you are able to cast a circle (draw power around a spot to make it sacred), correctly make a fire, and make your own offering to the Divine is acceptable. Some Wiccan cultures inspire carrying the ashes of the fire for protection. What you may do, imbue it with an expression of wonder, thanks, and energy for this bountiful and energetic time of year.
The Best on Midsummer 