ALT-1 The Meaning of Summer Solstice Celebrations
Summer has always brought us warmth and a new season full of hope, food, and celebrations. Most everyone welcomes the summer months for various reasons: summer sports, new relationships, and outdoor activities such as gardening, camping, barbequing, parties, and other activities that dramatically change our outlook on the world. It's amazing what the sun will do to brighten up the day and one's outlook on life. It helps to heal and nurtures our bodies with Vitamin D3; a very important vitamin that regulates calcium and phosphorus in the blood, promotes bone formation and mineralization, inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion, and affects the immune system by promoting immunosuppression, phagocytosis, and anti-tumor activity. The health benefits of the sun have been known for many years, so it's not too far-fetched to understand the traditions of celebrating the Summer Solstice and its connection with the Sun and life on Earth.
Known as the longest day and shortest night of the year, the Summer Solstice is celebrated in many areas of the world to honor the Sun. From ancient times to present day, June 21 or 22 has always been associated as the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice is celebrated on December 21 or 22nd. The Summer Solstice is a time for happiness. A time to dance and sing with joy. A time to be filled with love and to give love unconditionally. A time to honor that which gives us life and that which warms our hearts and minds. With all these joyful activities and events, one doesn't need to wonder why the Summer Solstice is celebrated throughout the world.
In Northern Europe, or Celtic countries, the Solar Lord was celebrated in ancient times. In modern times, witches and pagans honor the Lord of Light. It's a joyous celebration in which the Lord of Light is asked to "put to flight the powers of darkness" (Summer Solstice) and one that brings fertility and abundance to the land and its people. In Britain, the Oak King reigns from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice where the Holly King would reign until the Oak King returns in the winter. The Oak King is considered the god of the waxing year and the Holly King is the god of the waning year.
Music, dancing, and story telling are all parts of the celebration of Summer Solstice in Ireland. Bonfires have become a common celebratory participation in many Summer Solstice celebrations. The celebration in Ireland begins with a bonfire and prayers are recited while participants walk around the fire. Herbs gathered during the eve of Summer Solstice in Ireland are used for medicinal purposes, rites, and divination. Herbs such as St. John's Wort, Yarrow, and Elderberries, just a few of the herbs gathered during the eve of Summer Solstice, are a part of the celebration to honor the day. Picking herbs at this time is thought to give the herbs more power to heal. Hazel branches cut between the hours of 12 and 1:00 pm are used in the tradition of searching for gold, water, and precious jewels.
Druids celebrate the marriage of Heaven and Earth during Midsummer or Summer Solstice. Again, bonfires are lit because it's a celebration toward honoring the sun while the sun is at its peak of power. During the bonfire, the sun is asked to stay as long as possible and to refrain from withdrawing into the winter darkness. The ancient celebration of the Cornwall Summer Bonfire in England has been a tradition for many years and is still a popular festival rite. Bonfires light up the hillsides while dancers decorate themselves with garlands and flowers and young men jump through the flames.
Native Americans celebrate Summer Solstice in several areas of the United States. Since earlier times, Native Americans and others have flocked to the Big Horn Mountains in northern Wyoming and Fajada Butte in Chaco Canyon. In the Big Horn Mountains, Native Americans built a wheel of stones, or medicine wheel, with twenty-eight spokes that has an established Summer Solstice alignment with the sunrise. There are also medicine wheels located in Zion Canyon and Sedona, Arizona. It is said that those who celebrate Summer Solstice congregate at these sites because of the power associated with these areas and the feelings of connection with those who made the wheels.
In ancient Egypt, the most important day of the year was Summer Solstice. During this time, the Nile's water rises and while the sun was at its highest, celebrations were under way to honor the Goddess Isis. It was thought that Isis mourned the death of her husband, Osiris, every year during this time and her tears would flow into the Nile causing the water to rise and swell over the banks of the river. This was very important to the people of Egypt as it was a time when rebirth, resurrection, victory, and fertility were restored to the land and the flooding of the Nile brought life back to the valley.
There are many celebrations around the world during the Summer Solstice, too many to mention them all, but no matter where the celebration is people are celebrating the sun and its necessary components to life on Earth. The summer is a time of happiness and because the Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year it gives people a sense of hope, vitality, and joy for the coming months. So, go forth and celebrate the first day of summer in whichever way you want to celebrate. Whether you become one with nature or celebrate in a group, the Summer Solstice is a time for love, joy, and everlasting hope for the future.
Reference: Summer Solstice athttp://www.crystalinks.com/summersolstice.html
