This is an organic document, and is being regularly updated. If your interpretation of a holiday isn't mentioned, please let me know. Marc Carlson Marc-Carlson@UTULSA.EDU Last updated 1998 ================================================================ For some traditions, these Holidays begin at Sundown the evening BEFORE the date given. June 21-2 or 23-4 (Summer Solstice or Midsummer; Lissa/Litha; Lady Day) This is the summer solstice, the "Noon" of the year's day, and the longest day of the year. Light and life abound, and we joyfully turn outward, experiencing the joys of plenty, tasting the first fruits of the season. The term "Lady Day" comes from the common name for Christian "Annunciation of the Virgin Mary" on March 25. Litha is Norse or Anglo-Saxon for "longest day." You can say this one just like it looks, or you can try for a Scandinavian sound and say "leetha" with the "th" more like a "t." "Old Burnaby day" (The date of St. Barnabus' Day, by the Old Calendar) *Interpretations* * Longest day of the Year, it has various meanings for different traditions. * Some modern witches refer to the four 'quarter-days' of the year as the 'Lesser Sabbats', or the 'Low Holidays'. * Beginning of the reign of the Holly King. St. John the Baptist *is* the 'the Oak King' (compared to his balance Jesus, the 'Holly King'), and many statues show him with horns (as with Moses). He had a strong connection to the Wilderness, and some of his more exotic medieval iconography may be related to the common interpretation of the Jack in the Green, the Woodwose, the Wild Man of the Wood, the Greenman. * It is a recognition that the days will soon be growing shorter, and of the eventual victory of the dark against the sun. * It is generally thought today that the Sun-God meets his death at the summer solstice, but others believe that he is at his Peak today, and will not die until the Equinox. * Big Bonfire Day. * Festival of Anu when torches of hay and straw are waved over crops and cattle. * Festival of the Three Mothers (Anu/Brigit/Macha) * In some places the "Feast of Beltan" held at the solstice with Baal Fires, driving of cattle and supernatural creatures. * In some traditions the sacred marriage of the Goddess and God is celebrated. * The two chief icons of the holiday are the spear (symbol of the Sun-God in his glory) and the summer cauldron (symbol of the Goddess in her bounty). * A celebration of the Creation of Rhea, the Cretan Mother Goddess. * The festival of the Chinese Goddess of Light, Li. June 23 (Midsummer's Eve; St. John's Eve) [These are listed separately, as the historical treatment of Midsummer is one of the greatest faerie riddles I can imagine, but St. John's and Midsummer *should* be the same holiday. * In England, it was the ancient custom on St. John's Eve to light large bonfires after sundown, which served the double purpose of providing light to the revelers and warding off evil spirits. This was known as 'setting the watch'. People often jumped through the fires for good luck. In addition to these fires, the streets were lined with lanterns, and people carried cressets (pivoted lanterns atop poles) as they wandered from one bonfire to another. These wandering, garland-bedecked bands were called a 'marching watch'. Often they were attended by morris dancers, and traditional players dressed as a unicorn, a dragon, and six hobby-horse riders. Just as May Day was a time to renew the boundary on one's own property, so Midsummer's Eve was a time to ward the boundary of the city. * Most young folk held late night partys, planning to stay up throughout the whole of this shortest night of the year. * Some people might spend the night keeping watch in the center of a circle of standing stones, risking death to gain the power of poetic inspiration. * This was also the night when the serpents of the island would roll themselves into a hissing, writhing ball in order to engender the 'glain', also called the 'serpent's egg', 'snake stone', or 'Druid's egg'. Anyone in possession of this hard glass bubble would wield incredible magical powers. * In Britain, Midsummer night was second only to Halloween for its importance to the Faeries, who especially enjoyed a ridling on such a fine summer's night. Some Faerie lore includes + To see the Faeries, gather fern seed at the stroke of midnight and rub it onto your eyelids. + You might be led astray by Pixies unless you carry some Rue in your pocket. Or, you might simply turn your jacket inside-out, which should keep you from harm's way, as will crossing a stream of 'living' water. * Other customs included decorating the house, especially the front door, with birch, fennel, St. John's wort, orpin, and white lilies. * Five plants were thought to have special magical properties on this night: rue, roses, St. John's wort, vervain and trefoil. June 24 (Midsummer; St. John's Day/The Nativity of St. John The Baptist) See Above 11 July "Rushing Day", "Bawming the Thorn Day" (Cheshire, England) * Rush bearing and hay strewing. * A celebration of Dagda, and the rationing of grain stocks before Lughsnad. The height of the "Yellow" Summer Months and the threat of famine in the midst of plenty. Often a holiday for slaves, more than for masters, a day of relaxation after hard work. Also a celebration of the gods of Peace and Love.