Litha is a pagan holiday; one of their eight sabbats during the year. Litha (also known as Midsummer/Midsommer to my Nordic family) occurs on the summer solstice, and celebrates the beginning of summer. The traditions of Litha appear to be borrowed from many cultures. Most ancient cultures celebrated the summer solstice in some way. The Celts celebrated Litha with hilltop bonfires and dancing. Many people attempted to jump over or through the bonfires for good luck.
Other European traditions included setting large wheels on fire, and rolling them down a hill into a body of water. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, and in some traditions, Litha is when a battle between light and dark takes place. In this battle, the Oak King and the Holly King battle for control. During each solstice, they battle for power, and the balance shifts. The Oak King, who represents daylight, rules from the winter solstice (Yule) to Litha. During this time, the days steadily get longer. However, during Litha, the Holly King wins this battle, and the days get steadily darker until Yule.
For modern day pagans, Litha is a day of inner power and brightness. Here are some ideas for ways to celebrate and connect with the energy:
✨Journaling & Meditation- Journaling can help you focus and have a clear vision on what your goals are and can assist you on keeping track of intentions. It is also a great way to track progress and make adjustments where need be. Meditation is one of the most powerful tools for tuning in to your soul, connecting with spirit, and managing stress.
✨Create A Litha Altar- Altars are essentially spiritual installations. They can be large or small, busy or minimal, high or low—it’s up to you. They are there for you to enjoy and admire. They’re vessels for intention setting, letting you tune into what sparks joy, what is needed to grow, and what can now be released. They’re also fun to make and help us connect to the universe.
✨Solstice Ritual- On this, the longest day of the year, you have reason to celebrate, whether on your own with a long, intricate pagan ritual or a simple Summer Solstice rite for a gathering of your favorite people. You can host a bonfire, light candles, dance under the stars, or do anything that feels "right" and personal to YOU.
✨Spells- Litha is a powerful day full of energy that brings the union between heaven and earth.Midsummer folklore dictates that the summer solstice is a liminal, magical time where spirits and fairies are able to cross more easily into the human world. It’s a time to expect the unexpected and allow yourself to believe that wishes really can come true because there’s magic in the air. Cast a spell for love, or for manifesting something very important to you.
