What exactly is the summer solstice? The summer solstice, or the first day of
summer, is a significant celestial event.
It is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The term “solstice” is comprised of two Latin
words: “sun” (sol) and “stice” (to stand
still). As the days lengthen and the sun
rises high in the sky, it appears to stand still. People living in the Northern Hemisphere
experience it around June 21 and those living in the Southern Hemisphere
observe it around December 21.
Summer Solstice Traditions &
Celebrations
Another reason June is viewed as auspicious for weddings is because May is considered to be when the wedding of the Goddess and God took place, and out of respect for their deities, wedding were delayed until June.
Only one full moon happens in June and it’s called the Honey Moon because this is believed to be the best time to harvest honey from the bee hives. Because of this, newlyweds were fed dishes and beverages with honey during their first month of marriage to encourage love and fertility. As we know it in modern times, the holiday taken after a couple’s wedding is called the “honeymoon,” which is a continuation of the traditional celebration from ancient times.
Pagans – Pagan festivals consist of
groups gathering to light a sacred fire while staying up through the night to
welcome the dawn. The Pagans also
celebrated the “Honey Moon” and used the mead from fermented honey during their
wedding rituals at the summer solstice (midsummer). They celebrated this special day with
bonfires and couples would jump through the flames and hope their crops would
grow as high as they jumped. Dancing and
bonfires were also thought to help increase the sun’s energy.
Pagans also believed that midsummer was a time of magic and that evil spirits would appear. Adorning themselves with herbs and flowers
was believed to keep the evil spirits away.
China - The Chinese observe the day by worshiping Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. They celebrated the solstice by honoring the earth, the feminine, and the yin energies, which balance the winter solstice’s celebration of the heavens, masculinity and yang energies.
Ancient Gaul (France) – The “Feast of Epona” was the midsummer celebration in ancient Gaul. It is named after the Goddess who personified fertility, sovereignty and agriculture and she was portrayed as a woman riding a mare.
Ancient Rome – The ancient Rome “Festival of Vestalia” was held from June 7 through June 15. It was held in honor of the Roman Goddess of the hearth, Vesta. It was then that married women were permitted to enter the shrine of Vesta. During the rest of the year, only the vestal virgins were allowed inside.
Ancient Sweden – The ancient Swedes set up a midsummer tree and decorated it in every town with the villagers dancing around
it in celebration. Customarily, the
women and girls bathed in the local river.
This magical ritual was meant to bring rain to their crops.
Christian Countries – When Europe had converted to Christianity, John the Baptist’s celebratory feast day was set on June 24, which is allegedly his date of birth. It is considered one of the oldest feasts that honored a saint. Being considered a forerunner to Jesus, his feast is celebrated a few days after the summer solstice, just as Jesus’ is celebrated a few days after the winter solstice (December 21).
Essenes – Believed to be sun worshipers, the Essenes was the only Jewish religious group out of the 24 groups in Palestine during the 1st century which used a solar calendar. Archaeologists have discovered a sun temple at the ruins at Qumrun, which is the location of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It was considered a dining room by early investigators even though there were two altars at its eastern end. The room is laid out with exactly the same angles as the Egyptian shrines dedicated to the sun.
The summer solstice is still celebrated around the world, though most notably in England. Thousands still come to gather at Stonehenge and Avebury to welcome the summer solstice sunrise.
By Kristen Lee Curtis
