Happy Summer Solstice, the celestial event celebrating the longest day and shortest night of the year! Sol + Stice is derived by combining two Latin words meaning “sun” + “to stand still”, as the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky. Celebrated over the centuries by a variety of diverse cultures and representing even more diverse beliefs. When digging around some interesting folklore and legends are uncovered behind this ancient celebration and its meanings.
Interesting Solstice Facts:
Interesting Solstice Facts:
- Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year.
- Pagans called the Summer Solstice moon the “Honey Moon” for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of wedding ceremonies performed at Summer Solstice.
- In Lithuania it was said the dew from the morning of Summer Solstice would make old people look younger and young girls would be more beautiful.
- Ancient Pagans celebrated Summer Solstice with bonfires. Couples would leap through the flames, believing their crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump.
- The astrological sign associated with the Summer Solstice is Cancer, which is symbolized by the crab. It’s said that the crab is the symbol since the year walks backwards like a crab with progressively shorter days after the solstice.
- Summer Solstice was thought to be a magical time when evil spirits would disappear.
- In England bon fires were lit to keep the evil spirits away from the town.
- If you don’t sleep during the Summer Solstice and sit in the middle of a stone circle you’ll see fairies, ghosts, and goblins.
- In Estonia if you were able to jump over a solstice bon fire, without setting your pants on fire, you were ensured of having good luck during the next year.
- If there’s something you want walk around the solstice bon fire three times with a pebble in your hand while you whisper what you want to the pebble before throwing it into the fire.
- In South America paper boats were filled with flowers, set on fire, and then released to sail down the river carrying prayers to the gods.
- Celtic folklore tells of placing the ashes of the Litha fire around fields of crops to assure bountiful harvests.
- During the Summer Solstice men named John had a wreath of oak leaves placed on their doors to honor them.
Welcome summer!
