A Family Guide to Celebrating the Pagan Sabbat Midsummer

The Sun is at its peak, everything is full of life, and it's an excellent time to work with fairies (those that can be trusted)! The word "solstice" means "sun stands still". On this day the sun is in alignment with the stones at Stonehenge. Litha is the "longest" day of the year, meaning there is more daylight time on this day than on any other day of the year. Therefore it's a great day to spend time outdoors!

Although it's wonderful to celebrate Midsummer all day long, parties going into the night add an extra aspect of fun with dancing around bonfires. Midsummer Night's Eve is an excellent time to commune with fairies and woodland sprites. Make sure to leave them gifts and food and not to get "too" close to them! Fairies are beautiful creatures, but also very mischievous!
At this time the Goddess has become the Mother and is pregnant. The God is the Sun King, and at his strongest.
The Oak King and Holly King meet up in battle with the Oak King falling to the Holly King, thus beginning the waning part of the year and the onset of days growing shorter and colder.

Generally on Litha celebrations begin very early in the day - at sunrise. This way the full day of sunshine is used and appreciated. First fruits may be ready for harvest - especially berries, and can be gathered while the morning dew is still wet on them adding to their magickal properties.

Why it may seem odd to us that the day our calendar says is the first day of summer, we celebrate a pagan festival called "midsummer", there is a reason behind it. The Celtic calendar was different from our modern day calendar. According to their more accurate calendar, summer begins on May Day and ends on Lammas, making the summer solstice Midsummer. These dates also makes more sense because the Summer Solstice is the day the sun starts losing its power - not gaining it as the "beginning of summer" implies.

This day is also known to the Irish as when the first battle between the Fir Bolgs and the Tuatha De Danaan took place.
The Roman holiday was called Vestalia and was celebrated as a rekindling of the hearth fires.

Nature Spirits
The Sylph is a fragment of the soul of the earth in Faery form, living in the timeless zone.
In A Witch's Guide to Faery Folk Edain McCoy describes Sylphs in the following manner:
Sylphs appear as very small winged creatures whose
features are vaguely human. They are so light in color
and body as to be virtually transparent. … Sylphs
can be helpful to humans who seek them out.

Because Midsummer is a great time to commune with the fairies, extra care should be taken when dealing with them. Before Midsummer, take some time at your local bookstore and read up on fairy lore. There are many great books available that can tell you how to safely include the fey in your celebrations and rituals. I highly recommend the above book by Edain McCoy.

Colors
Orange promotes courage, pride, ambition, enthusiasm, energy, friendship, communication, success, opportunities, attraction, willpower, sun, adaptability, zest for life and imagination,

Gold represents the God, vitality, strength, success, action, courage, confidence, solar deities, summer, wealth, employment, masculinity, sun, power, and daylight hours.

Green is for abundance, growth, healing, prosperity, fertility, employment, luck, jealousy, personal appearance, neutralizes difficult situations, calming, finances, security and career.

Yellow is used for obtaining joy, vitality, increasing intelligence, helping with studies, persuasion, charm, creativity, communication, mind power, sun, psychic ability, attraction, examination and tests.

Red corresponds to passion, fire, willpower, courage, energy, strength, anger, blood, life cycle, desire and war.

Flowers
Lavender represents happiness, healing, peace, sleep, purification, love and conscious mind.

Orchids invoke love.
Yarrow aids in gaining courage, protection, love and psychic powers.

Scents
Lily of the Valley encourages happiness, mental powers, conscious mind, peace and memory.

Lavender summons happiness, healing, peace, sleep, purification, love, celibacy, and eases the conscious mind.

Stones
Topaz offers protection, healing, dieting, prosperity, love, emotional balance, tranquility, and creativity.

Agate grants courage, strength, love and protection.

Alexandrite bestows luck, love, spiritual transformation and joy.

Incense, Herbs, Trees and Woods
Skullcap provides for love, fidelity and peace.

Meadowsweet signifies love, divination, peace and happiness.

Vervain is used for love, protection, purification, peace, money, youth and healing.

Oak is used for protection, health, money, healing, potency, fertility and luck.

Rose indicates love, beauty, luck, psychic powers, protection and peace.

Violet corresponds to spiritual protection, luck, love, wishes, peace, sleep and healing.

Cedar is for healing, courage, purification, protection, money, hexbreaking, spirituality and self control.

Tangerine is used for psychic powers and mental powers.

Frankincense is used for spirituality, protection, banishing of negative entities, consecration and meditation.

St. John's Wort aids in good health, power, protection, strength, love, divination and happiness.

Basil encourages happiness, peace and receiving money.

Parsley grants purification, protection and fertility.

Mint is for obtaining money, love, good health and is also used for travel and protection.

Thyme is used for courage, the workings of the conscious mind and for good health.

Dragon's Blood is a power amplifier that is also used for protection, love, banishing and potency.

Ferns are for rain making, protection, luck, riches, eternal youth, and health.

Animals and Birds
The monkey signifies impulsiveness.

The butterfly connotes transmutation and the dance of joy.

The frog represents transformation through water and sound.

The toad indicates altered state of ones consciousness, Earthly energy, luck can change, adversity, courtship with sound, longevity, magickal..

The wren suggests resourcefulness and boldness.

The peacock represents resurrection and wise vision.

Other Symbols
Oak leaves and acorns represent the Oak King as he battles against the Holly King. Because the Oak King will lose the battle at this time, and be laid to rest, it is appropriate to lay oak leaves and acorns on the ground or on an altar so represent the fallen King.

Antlers always represent the King Stag and the Green Man - both of who are at the strongest at Midsummer.

The Cauldron is the symbol of the Goddess in her bounty.

The Spear is the symbol of the Sun God at his peak in all of his glory.

Sunflowers depict and symbolize the fullness of the Sun.

Anything having to do with the land of faery is very appropriate to associate with Midsummer. The fey come out in full force and celebrate just as much, if not more, than we mortals do!

Energy and Power Flows
Energy is at its peak at this time, but in a relaxed and restful manner. It has been building and building day after day and is now at it's climax readying to turn and begin lessening each day until it's next upward turn.
Power should be used for protection, to strengthen and for prevention.

Traditions

Take a nature walk.
Each season gives you the opportunity to take a nature walk and experience something different. It also helps you build your appreciation for the world around you. Let this nature walk focus on your senses. Take a notebook with you and write down everything you hear, everything you smell, feel things and write down what you feel. Don't forget to describe what you see in detail. On this walk, skip the sense of taste as there are many poisonous plants in the wild. You could however pack a picnic snack and use your sense of taste that way.

Star Gazing
Star gazing is always fun, but can be most enjoyable on a warm summer's night, provided it's not too buggy out! Get a book from your library or bookstore showing different constellations and see how many you can find. Keep track in your journal of ones you can fine. Remember to thank the God and Goddess for this beautiful light show!

Decorate your altar, table and home with the color's of the sun - red, orange, gold and white.

Have a nighttime bonfire to dance around - be careful with the kids! Use the ashes to fertilize your garden.

Make sure to use this day to give thanks to the fairies and to let them know they are appreciated for the help they do give. Leave them gifts in hidden locations where fairies are likely to hide.

Crafts

Fork Wind Chimes

What You Need:
Forks (try your local thrift store for inexpensive, old forks)
Hammer
Pole (2 feet long)
Waterproof ribbon (3 feet long)
Twine

What you do:
Using the hammer flatten the forks.
Tie the twine tightly and in a knot around the fork handles. Tie the other end of the
twine to one end of the pole. Make sure you tie each knot very close to each other
and on top of one another so the forks will be close enough to "chime".
Tie the crepe paper to the pole to decorate. You can also add any other items you
want - just make sure they are weatherproof.

Fingerprint Summer Tree
What you need:
Paints (different shades of green for leaves, brown for the trunk, and bright colors for flowers)
Large piece of paper
Wet sponge
Paper towels

What to do:
Begin by forming the trunk using the brown paints. Dip your fingertip into the brown paint and press onto the paper in a vertical pattern to form and shape a tree trunk.
Next use the shades of green in the same manner to make a bushy leafy top to the tree.
Allow the paint to dry.
When the paint is completely dry, use the bright colors to make flowers throughout the tree. Use the paint thickly for the flowers so that it covers the green leaves completely.

Midsummer Wreath
What You Need:
Bundle of reeds, 1 inch thick and 2 feet long. (Check your local craft store for dried reeds)
Paper towels
Sink, bathtub or other big bin to hold water in
Twine
Scissors
Assorted ribbon - one piece about 5 feet long, the others will be used to make bows.
Dried flowers

What to do:
Soak the reeds in warm water until they're flexible - time varies depending on the type of
reeds you use.
Using the paper towels, dry the excess water from the reeds, and then bend them into a
circle, overlapping the ends.
Tie the reeds together with twine where they overlap to hold them together. Tie twine
around the reeds at the 4 directional points to help hold them together.
Let the reeds dry and then tie the one end of the 5 foot ribbon around the wreath.

Wrap the ribbon loosely around the wreath.

Cut the flower stems to three or four inches.

Weave the flowers into the wreath or tie them on with ribbon. You can also use a hot glue

gun to hold them in place.

Add bows to finish decorating.

Decorated Rock Paperweights

What you need:

Rocks

Pictures from magazines, printed out from your computer or hand drawn.

White craft glue

Paintbrush

What you do:

Make sure the rocks are large enough to put pictures on them. Wash the rocks and

let them dry thoroughly. Cut pictures to fit the shape and size of the rock, so that

the picture can lay smoothly without wrinkling up or creasing. Cover the back of the

picture with the white craft glue using the paintbrush to cover the entire shape.

Press and hold the picture onto the rock until it sticks firmly, allow to dry completely.

You can also use paints to paint your rocks with different patterns or write on words

or draw symbols that have significance to you and your family. You can also decorate

them to look like different family members.

Shell Mobile

What You Need:

Shells (sand dollars work well)

String

2 pieces of dowel rod, about 1 foot length

Glue

What you do:

Using the string, tie the dowels into an 'X' shape. Glue shells onto several different

lengths of string. If you are using sand dollars, you can tie them to the strings

through the holes. Let them dry for a day. Tie the strings with shells to dowel rods

at all four corners and some in between. Tie another string to the middle where the

two dowels cross to make a hanger.