The Summer Solstice
By Robin Dumolin
On
two days a year, one in late December and the other in June the
earth’s axis is tilted the most directly toward (and away
from) the sun. Around June 21 when the north pole is pointed towards
the sun, people in the northern hemisphere experience the summer
solstice which has the longest day and shortest night of the year.
In most cultures studied, myths and rituals of the solstices focus
on the theme of renewal, either of rulership, plants, the year,
people or the sun.
The summer solstice wasn’t just about socializing, courting
rituals and having a pleasant holiday. The underlying emotion
was oftentimes one of dread. The summer solstice marked the time
when the sun would then begin diminishing, it’s presence
less and less felt from that day forward. That is why there were
sacrifices and bonfires at this time. Offering the sun god a sacrifice
and with the bonfire being an act of faith that the sun’s
warmth would continue throughout the year.
In Sardinia, the summer solstice couples were called sweethearts
of St. John. Their celebration featured pots of sprouting grain
to emphasize sexuality and fertility. The couples got dressed
up on midsummer and had adults and children following them to
the church where they then broke the pot against the Church door.
Then there was a picnic and lastly they danced in circles together.
At midsummer one of the traditions has been to make amulets for
protection out of specific herbs to protect both homes and animals.
Boughs of the herb rowan were hung over the entrances of stables
to protect livestock from any evil magic which could cause harm
or disease.
The herb rue was used for protection, poison and disease and in
England to combat the spells of fairies. The herb St. John’s
Wort is also strongly associated with midsummer. It is named for
John the Baptist and St. John’s Day. St. John’s Day
was the name given for the pagan celebration of the summer solstice
by the church to do away with that celebration and rituals and
replace it with a holiday where the emphasis was on a recognized
saint.
The herb St. John’s Wort is ruled by the sun and its flowers
are a bright yellow that symbolize the sun. This plant has the
ability to bind spirits, so it has been traditionally gathered
at this time of year and used for protection.
There were other ways people protected their property and livestock.
They would create hexes and place them on their homes and barns.
The Pennsylvania Dutch brought with them certain traditions that
stem from the Rhine Valley folklore and magic. A six pointed rosette
was for protection, a four pointed star was a sun symbol, the
eight pointed star was for abundance, and so on.
Midsummer was the time for predicting the future. A lot of the
traditions had to do with rituals done by young girls who were
looking to get married. In Denmark, two sprigs of St. John’s
Wort were placed between the roof rafters of a home, if they grew
together there would be a marriage. In some countries the plant
orphine was placed on a young woman’s windowsill at midsummer’s
eve. The next morning whichever direction its stalk had grown
would point to the direction where her true love would come.
Fire and water
Summer solstice bonfires were lit in Denmark and Norway, they
were believed to keep away sickness in cattle. In Germany people
wore mugwort and vervain and looked into the bonfire through branches
of larkspur believing this would ensure good health to their eyes.
Scotland cowherds carrying torches walked three times around their
animals following the course of the sun in order to protect their
animals. Midsummer bonfires have also been lit in North Africa
and South America.
The element of fire is mostly associated with midsummer’s
day, but water was also an important element. Tamuz, a god of
Babylon and Carthage is associated with water at this time of
year. His name translates to, “true son of the deep water”.
His image was bathed in water at the summer solstice. Blessings
and healings were done in sacred rivers, springs and seas around
the world. The man most closely associated with this day is John
the Baptist and he is renowed for baptizing multitudes of people
including Jesus.
Sources: The English Festivals by Laurence Wistler, Celebrate
the Solstice by Richard Heinberg and Ancient Ways by Pauline Campanelli |
