Ideas for ways in which you, your family and friends can celebrate the Sabbat of Litha, also known as Midsummer and Summer Solstice.
As the fire festival of Litha draws near, it’s time to begin thinking of ways to celebrate with family and friends. Litha, also known as Midsummer and Summer Solstice, is traditionally seen by many Pagan beliefs to be the time when the reign of the Oak King gives way to the Holly King. It is a time when the power of the sun is at its strongest and summer is at its peak.
Because Litha is a fire festival it has some rites that are also performed during Beltane, such as lighting bonfires and handfasting. It is a time for rededication, healing, purification and, of course, a good dose of fun. Being the longest day of the year, it can be the perfect day to spend outdoors enjoying the Sun God in all his glory. The following are some ideas of ways that you, your family and friends can celebrate Litha.
- If the weather is good then bring your family on a picnic and enjoy the warm, uplifting sunlight. Bring fruits and vegetables that are in season in order to honor the Mother’s abundant blessings.
- If you or anyone in your group has a fire pit, have an evening bonfire ritual for purification and protection. Traditional herbs to be tossed into the bonfire are wild thyme, chamomile, sage, mugwort and lavender. Other herbs and plants associated with Litha are mint, rose, daisy, yarrow, oak, elder, heather and St. John’s Wort.
- This is a good time for pet blessings so you may want to have a special family ceremony to bless your beloved pet or pets.
- Have an outdoor or indoor feast with foods that are symbolic of Litha such as corn cakes, berries, seasonal vegetables, honey cakes, fruit salad and freshly baked bread.
- If you have young children, let them draw or color pictures of dragons, fairies, butterflies or images of the sun. Then hang their works of art in the windows of your home or display them on a large bulletin board or display board.
- But don’t let the children have all the fun! Create your own works of art depicting anything that symbolizes Litha for you and even make it part of a ritual of healing or inspiration if you wish. If you’re having a large gathering of people, buy a roll of butcher paper and have everyone bring their own art supplies such as crayons, markers or color pencils. Unroll the paper on a large table or any hard surface and everyone can take part in a Litha work of art.
- Have family or group craft projects such as making a Solar Wheel, a Witches Ladder or dream pillows filled with lavender and rosemary.
- Create an outdoor or indoor altar as a group or family project. Some traditional items to place on the altar are flowers such as iris, honeysuckle and sunflowers, summer fruits, bundles of heather, herbs that represent Litha, honey cakes and orange, gold or yellow candles.
Use your imagination and intuition to think of other ways that you, your family and friends can honor the God and Goddess at this sacred and uplifting time of year. Have fun and let the magick of the day fill your heart with light.
Also read- Fire Magick
