Summer Solstic and Weekend Customs

Yesterday was Summer Solstic in the UK, or in laymen terms the longest day “daylight” in the Northern hemisphere. It typically falls around June 20-22 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 20-23 in the Southern Hemisphere. The solstice was particularly important in Nordic communities, where seasonal changes in sunlight are dramatic. The Vikings used the long days to maximise their productivity by hunting, settling disputes and conducting raids.

After the Christian Church was established, solstice celebrations were combined with St John’s Day, commemorating St John the Baptist. In the 19th century, Christians used St John’s Day to act out the baptisms of children who had died as ‘pagans’

Mysticism and magic is another common theme in midsummer folklore across the world and magic was thought to be strongest during the summer solstice and myths told of the world turning upside down or the sun standing still at midsummer.

In an 1855 oil painting from Gunby Hall, Lincolnshire, Scottish painter William Bell Scott depicts pixies dancing by firelight. In a letter that Scott wrote in 1886, he described the painting as showing ‘fairies dancing before a great dying kitchen fire…at a Haunted House on Midsummer’s Eve.’

Even today various cultures around the world celebrate the summer solstice with unique traditions that often emphasize light, fertility, and the bounty of the season. Here are some notable summer solstice traditions:

One of the most famous celebrations takes place at Stonehenge. Thousands gather at this ancient site to watch the sunrise on the solstice, aligning with the Heel Stone. This event attracts pagans, druids, and tourists alike. In countries like Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, Kupala Night combines pagan and Christian traditions.

Bonfires and Jumping Over Flames: To purify and ensure health and fertility.

Flower Wreaths: Girls float flower wreaths on rivers, and boys try to catch them.

Water and Nature Rituals: Swimming and collecting herbs for medicinal and protective purposes.

In countries like Sweden, Finland, and Norway, Midsummer is a major celebration. Festivities include:

Maypole Dancing: People decorate a maypole with flowers and ribbons and dance around it.

Bonfires: Large bonfires are lit to celebrate the light and ward off evil spirits.

Feasting: Traditional foods like pickled herring, new potatoes, and strawberries are enjoyed.

Fertility Rituals: Some traditions involve young women picking seven different flowers to place under their pillows, hoping to dream of their future spouse.

Honoring the sun and the cycle of life. These diverse traditions reflect the importance of the summer solstice in human culture, celebrating light, growth, and the rhythms of nature. Must admit, it’s nice to have the sun out when we wake up in the morning and sitting out enjoying the garden in the evening during summer time. Looks like we will have a grate sunny and dry weekend, so whatever you do enjoy your weekend summer traditions and don’t forget to spend quality time with those nearest and dearest to you.