Litha Intro

The celebration of the Summer Solstice, the border between spring and summer, is known by many Pagans as Litha, a name attested to in the 8th-century writings of the Venerable Bede. In the lands of the Anglo-Saxons, of whom Bede was writing, Litha was considered the midpoint of summer and is still celebrated as Midsummer Day throughout Great Britain. However, in America, due to climatic differences, the Summer Solstice marks the beginning of the season. Regardless, the evidence suggests that the solstice was celebrated with bonfires at least as far back as the Middle Ages, when written records of such practices begin. In his 1996 book The Stations of the Sun, historian Ronald Hutton offers a possible derivation of the term bonfire: a contraction of “bone-fire,” that is, a fire in which clean bones were burned instead of wood. He notes, “The stench of the burning bones… was thought to drive away dragons” (p.313). According to Hutton, a fire made of wood without bones is more properly called a “wakefire.” He finds convincing evidence of the widespread celebration of a pre-Christian fire festival at the Summer Solstice throughout England and Ireland, though much less so in Wales and the Scottish Highlands, except in areas with a strong Scandinavian influence.

Since the Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year (and consequently the shortest night), it seems appropriate that the theme of Litha celebrations should be “Light.” What does light mean to us? As human beings, it provides an awareness of our surroundings as well as clarity. And at this time of year, light is abundant. We can shine some of that light on the darker areas within us and re-evaluate—see if we are where we want to be or if there are things we need to work on. For the Planet Earth, sunlight provides sustenance. Plants depend on photosynthesis to feed themselves, herbivorous animals depend on the plants, and carnivores consume the plant-eaters. They in turn are consumed after death to provide nutrients to the soil in which the plants grow. Light keeps the cycles of life going, and that’s something worth celebrating. In some ways, the Summer Solstice feels like a high point; the sun is at its strongest, the light is at its brightest and lingers its longest. But we should be mindful of the shadows, for we are crossing over into the waning half of the year.