Litha, also known as Midsummer, takes place on the Summer Solstice. Where I am located in the Northern Hemisphere, it is going to happen on June 21st. Litha is a Pagan holiday and is one of the 8 Sabbats that takes place throughout the year. The goal of this post is to provide information on Litha, and ways to celebrate the occasion.
What is Litha?
Litha is a Pagan holiday that is celebrated to mark the beginning of summer. It takes place at different times depending on what hemisphere you live in. It expresses the balance between the Holly King and Oak King. The Oak King represents lightness, while the Holly King is darkness. When Yule takes place (the Winter Solstice), the Oak King takes over as the days progressively get longer and lighter. When the Summer Solstice occurs, the reigns are handed back to the Holly King, since after Midsummer the days will begin to grow shorter and darker. Litha celebrates the abundance of light, life, and fulfillment and acknowledges the return to darkness.
Activities for the Summer Solstice
There are a variety of things one can do to celebrate Litha but here are some ideas to celebrate the Solstice.
- Honey Cake– Bees are creating an abundance of honey during the summer, making it a perfect time to bake a honey cake. This is a common practice to do on Litha. Here is a recipe (I haven’t tried it yet).
- Being Present at Sunrise and Sunset– Since the Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, I think being present to watch the sun rise and set is a good way to acknowledge the entire day of light.
- Celebrate the Sun by wearing yellows, oranges, and golds– I thrifted a dress with these colors recently.
- Play and Connect in Nature– Spending time outside exploring is a great way to enjoy the daylight and overall a nice thing to do on any sabbat.
- Gather flowers and nature symbols to decorate the home– Or buy flowers from a local seller.
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