Litha (Date: on the summer solstice, Jun 20-23)
A Sabbat for celebrating the longest day of the year, as well as for mourning the shortening days after. Some Witches burn bonfires or light candles to represent the Sun.
Litha (pronounced “LEE-THA”) is known also as the Summer Solstice, and Midsummer. It is a Sun and fire festival that marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. In the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, the height of the summer and the height of the God’s powers are celebrated on Litha. It is one of the Germanic festivals of the year and was most likely not observed by the Celts. The Christian holiday of St John’s Day coincides with the summer solstice, its date is the 24th of June. The summer solstice is still widely celebrated in Sweden, where it is known as Midsommar. In Finland we have Juhannus. This is my first Litha post so I will give you bunch of information.
This years Litha was amazing, we were in sauna every night, ate so much I couldn´t move, I practiced my poi (fire thing) tricks, I cleaned, took pictures, we listened music, I read books, did some sketchings, picked flowers and made a flower crown and we just enjoyed our surroundings and chilled. Sometimes you don´t need much, you don´t need to talk. You just need to smell, see and feel the summer and nature vibes. I picked so much things to our trip but ended up doing nothing in the end most of the time. I couldn´t have been any more happier. I wish I would be still in our little cabin in our little island. I hope we get there soon again. Try not to be without your phones, computers or tv´s for a while, you end up being happier. Connect with the Mother Earth, I bet you will enjoy it.
This years Litha was amazing, we were in sauna every night, ate so much I couldn´t move, I practiced my poi (fire thing) tricks, I cleaned, took pictures, we listened music, I read books, did some sketchings, picked flowers and made a flower crown and we just enjoyed our surroundings and chilled. Sometimes you don´t need much, you don´t need to talk. You just need to smell, see and feel the summer and nature vibes. I picked so much things to our trip but ended up doing nothing in the end most of the time. I couldn´t have been any more happier. I wish I would be still in our little cabin in our little island. I hope we get there soon again. Try not to be without your phones, computers or tv´s for a while, you end up being happier. Connect with the Mother Earth, I bet you will enjoy it.
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| The Midsummer sunset was creating such a macigkal light, no edits needed |
Earlier Sabbats:
Lughnasadh 2018 English
Lughnasa 2012 Finnish
Imbolc 2018 English
Beltane 2013 both
Beltane 2012 both
Beltane 2011 mostly Finnish
Oestara 2013 both
Oestara 2012 Finnish and second Oestara post in English
Yule 2011 Finnish
Yule 2010 Finnish
Samhain 2011 Finnish
Mabon 2011 both
Historic Litha/Summer Solstice Traditions:
-Traditions in ancient/pre-Christian Rome:
In the run up to and during the Summer Solstice, ancient Romans celebrated and honored the goddess of the hearth, Vesta, during an aptly named festival - Vestalia. During this festival, alongside generic merriment (eating and drinking), women would leave offerings for Vesta in her temples hoping to bring blessings to their families.
-Traditions in ancient/pre-Christian Greece:
Around the Summer Solstice a festival named Kronia was held to honor and celebrate the god of agriculture, Cronus. It was a time of merriment and feasting, and during this time the social structures of Greece were flipped on their head: slaves were not required to fulfill their duties as slaves and were allowed to enjoy the festival alongside those of higher standing.
-Traditions in ancient/pre-Christian Europe:
In Europe, it was customary in many faiths and religious circles (including Slavic, Celtic, and Germanic) to celebrate the Summer Solstice with bonfires. Bonfires were believed to bolster the energy of the Sun and ensure a bountiful harvest come the end of the harvest season. The fires were believed to drive away and banish negative energies and evil spirits.
Bonfires
In the UK, bonfires used to play a central role in the celebration of the summer solstice and St John’s Day. The etymology of the word “bonfire” is unclear. Possible origins are “bone”, “boon” (a gift of goodwill), “bane”, or the Old Norse “baun”, which means “beacon”.
In 14th century Shropshire, three fires were lit on Midsummer Night:
A bonfire made out of bones
A wakefire made out of wood
A St John’s fire made out of both
The bonfires were for protection and luck, since crops are especially vulnerable to diseases and bad weather at the time of the festival.
Wheel of Fire
Another tradition at the summer solstice is the Wheel of Fire. A haystack was lit and rolled down a hill. If it burned all the way down, a good harvest was to come. A text from 4th century France first mentions the custom. By the 19th century, it was widespread in Europe. (Here is a short video of a similar German tradition that gives you an idea of what it looks like.)
Plant Magic
Litha has always been a potent date for plant magic. St John’s Day celebrations often included processions were flowers were carried. In 16th century London, doors were decorated with birch twigs, fennel, St John’s wort, orpins, and white lillies.
Source: Hutton, Ronald, The Stations of the Sun (Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1997)
Activities:
-Take a bath with gold/yellow bath bombs or corresponding herbs and flowers.
-Sunbathe.
-Leave offerings for the Fae.
-Try divination using fire scrying.
-Meditate in the morning (or when ever)
-Listen to happy music
-Light yellow and orange candles
-Make rose oil
-Pick flowers and herbs
-Bake a cake, cookies or make other sweets
-Eat them with your loved ones
-Surround yourself with light
-Wear or make flower crowns
-Cleanse your room/home with light
-Clean out cobwebs
-Admire Summer: Whether it’s a hot, bright summer day or a summer storm, enjoy the Solstice! Stop to smell the flowers, bask in the weather and full bloom of nature, or just enjoy the longest day of the year.
-Make a fire when it’s dark (or light a candle or incense if you can’t do that). As Fire is the primary element, simply lighting a candle is a great way to celebrate! Some choose to light it during the day and allow it to burn throughout the day. But it is way better to watch your fire and not get your place on fire, so don´t leave your candles alone! Praying to the candle is another aspect to consider. Bonus if you a light a candle that is made from beeswax!
-Use Summer herbs.
-Color-coordinate and accessorize: Yellows, oranges, and other similar summer colors are a low-key way to celebrate. Wear these colored clothing or accessories in celebration. If you have accessories or clothing that have butterflies, bees, other pollinators, and birds, even better! Got sun-theme jewelry? Also good! Wear warm colors or any bright color that makes you happy and what makes your own light shine!
-Watch the sunrise/sunset: Many suggest watching the sunrise on Litha, and others say watch the sunset. Your choice! Just enjoy the beautiful colors and scenery of a sunrise/sunset.
-Focus on yourself: Figure out what you want to let go. We’re 6 months in and it’s time for a review. Are you happy? Are there things you can let go of? Take the time to review yourself, your path, and your life. See what you want out of your life and make a plan to achieve it.
-Celebrate love: Love yourself, your family, your friends, and/or your partner. Single? Say a prayer to search for love. Cast a love-magnet spell, or a self-love spell. Hell, do some divination on the topic of love (romantic, platonic, and/or familial) Most importantly, express your love. Do things that promote self-love. Tell your family, friends, and/or partner you love them.
-Do something outside! Litha is the longest day of the year, so go into nature and spend some of those hours doing something you enjoy.
-If you have an altar, decorate it to celebrate. Use the symbols and colours and other things listed in this post to decorate your altar for the sabbat.
-Have a bonfire! You can have a big one, or a little one, but bonfires have been a big part of celebrating Litha for as long as we know. The bonfires are cleansing, energising and purifying.
Herbs/Flowers/Scents:
Daisies, Marigolds, Carnations, Sunflowers, Chamomile, Parsley, Frankincense, Lemon, Lily, Hydrangea, Orchids, Sandalwood, Thyme, Sage, Peonies, Mint, Myrrh, Pink /White Roses, Red Clover, Chili Powder, Chamomile, Cumin, Arnika, Valerian, Mugwort, Yarrow, Verbena, Clover, Bay,
Chicory (Endive), Cinquefoil, Elderflower, Eyebright, Fennel, Lavender, Mistletoe, Pine, St. John’s Wort, Vervain, Oak, Lemon, Heliotrope.
Colors:
Gold.
Yellow.
Orange.
Red.
Green.
Blue.
Light Pink
White
Light Green
Trees:
Oak.
Decorations:
Candles.
Sea shells.
Herbs.
Flowers.
Crystals.
Feathers.
Oak leaves.
Symbols of the sun.
Food:
Seasonal foods are always the best for sabbats.
Seasonal fruits (especially berries)
Cheese
Sweet cake
Fruit salad (any kind of salad actually)
Honey
Fruit tea
Chicken
Sunflower seeds
Lemonade
Chili
Chickweed
Samphire
Nettles
Sorrel
Watercress
Wild rocket
Horseradish
Chives
Wild fennel
Elderflowers
Wild mushrooms
Artichoke
Asparagus
Aubergine
Beetroot
Broad Beans
Cabbage
Carrots
Courgette
Garlic
Lettuce
Onions
Potatoes
Turnips
Fruit & veg
Herbed bread
Honey cakes
Pork
Ice tea
Oils and Scents:
Rose
Lemon
Cinnamon
Honeysuckle
Orange
Crystals:
Moon Stone, Amethyst, Tiger Eye, Red Jasper, Citrine, Fluorite, Agate, Carnelian, Sunstone, Aventurine, Topaz, Jade.,Garnet,Fire opal., Pyrite, All green stones (esp. jade and emerald), Diamond, Quartz, Fluorite, Pearl
SYMBOLS:
Fire.
The Sun.
Blades/Knives.
Mistletoe.
Oak trees.
Oak leaves.
Bonfire/Balefire.
Sun wheels.
SPELLS & MAGIC[K]:
Litha is a time for abundance, cleansing, creativity, divination; fertility; growth; healing; power; and manifestation. Any magic[k]al workings pertaining to these will be appropriate during this sabbat. Your workings may be somewhat amplified during thie time of heightened magic[k].
Spells to Do:
Happiness and Joy
Love
Success
Luck
Personal Growth
Glamour and Beauty
Campfire ritual
-Perform ritual at midnight preferably on a full moon
-Make a campfire in a safe area (check the weather broadcast!), or alternatively light a white candle. have a bucket of water nearby just in case.
-Leave out an offering (food, drink, flowers) for the local spirits near the fire.
-Play music or sing and dance around the fire (naked is good). empty your mind and let there only be music.
-Speak a prayer to your ancestors. ask, if you have questions.
-Listen to the sounds of nature in silence.
-Put off the fire before leaving the spot.
Altar ideas:
Symbols of the Sun and the Moon, feminine and masculine symbols if that’s a thing in your tradition; decorate with black and white to symbolize the night and day.
Celebration ideas: Get up before the Sun rises and go to sleep after it sets, so you can experience the day and night; have a bonfire (again, safety is important); have a picnic; just spend a lot of time outside.
Litha Altar Decorations
- Lots and lots of flowers that grow native in your area this time of year
- Sunflowers, roses, lavender, dandelions
- Flower crowns and flower garlands
- A bowl of fruit and vegetables, especially anything citrus like oranges
- Lots of candles (Litha is a fire sabbat)
- Colours like yellow, gold, and orange
- You could have a vase of sticks with fairy lights in it to represent a bonfire
- Maypoles are still a thing for Litha
- A cute offering dish to leave out sweets for the fae
- A jar of local honey
- Anything that represents the sun
- Incense (sandalwood, rose, lavender, frankincense, dragon’s blood)
- Oak leaves and acorns
- Anything that reflects the sun like suncatchers, glass beads, and mirrors
Things to enjoy while celebrating Litha:
-Sunshine, sun flowers, bright clear sunny blue skies, cold lemonade, soft yellows, candied lemon peels, bubbles and sparkles in the air and dandelions. Water balloons and hot air balloons. Honey bees and warm breezes
-Bonfires, sparks, barbecue, flame dancers, roasted peppers, loud drums, the smell of charcoal, heat, charred marks on grilled food, hot sun and bright orange day lilies. Orange paper plates, dragons, smoke and habaneros.
-Fire flies, thick emerald and lush greenery and woods, camping in the backyard, the soft glow of lanterns, cool melons and cucumbers, the musical chirping of crickets, a lakeside party in the middle of the woods, a softly playing guitar the golden glow of the setting sun layered on everything.
-The crashing shores, mermaids and bejeweled bikinis, a bonfire by the sea, fries and seafood, soft colorful shawls billowing in the wind, blazing sun, sunscreen and colorful towels. Salt water taffies and gummy candies. Sea shell tea lights and sparklers.
-An open field and a hot oppressive heat, an bright blue sky, the screaming sounds of cicadas and the smell of frying food. Colorful tents, neon colors, funnel cakes, tie dye, a lute playing, a summer festival with carnival-like qualities. Electric lights, holographic scales, neon black lights.
-Strawberries, pink lemonade, sunset skies and sweet smelling candles in glass lanterns. White linen, rose petal infusions, hanging votives from trees, elderflower wine and lemon glaze icing. White lace dresses and flower crowns. Bouquets of summer flowers, the countryside’s grass of many streaks of colors.
-Gold tiara chains, blood oranges, tiki torches and flame flag dancers. Night skies with thousands of stars, hibiscus iced tea, Gold rings, chain jewelry, bohemian cushions and sheer veil canopies. Warm summer nights, fire pits, story telling and spiced liquor.
Don´t worry, be one with the nature.
Blessed be darklings!
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