To those living in the Northern Hemisphere, I bid Litha’s blessings to all who celebrate! We are now officially in summer, marked by the shortest night of the year. The is the highest energies will be prior to the cyclical journey inward which follows, so take advantage of it. Today, I share with you not only the history of this sabbat, but how I observe and celebrate it on my own path as a Khthonic Wicca (which you can read about here).

History & Folklore

Coming from Old English ‘liþa’ (gentle or calm), Litha (pronounced ‘lith-uh’) is one of the eight sabbats of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year which is inspired by older celebrations honoring the first days of summer. It may also be referred to as Midsummer (though it is considered the beginning of summer by our modern calendar). As it occurs during the summer solstice – the time of the year in which the day is at its longest and the night is at its shortest – it is considered a Greater Sabbat, though this does not imply that it is any more important than the four Lesser Sabbats.

Observation and celebration of the summer solstice can be traced as far back as the Neolithic era, and monuments all over the world including Stonehenge, the Standing Stones of Mountseskin, the Externsteine temple, the ruins of Chaco Canyon, the Serpent Mound, the Osireion temple, the Great Pyramids, the Essene Monastery, the megaliths in Nabta Playa, the Ajanta Caves, and more highlight the position of the sun as it stands at it reaches its peak. Though historical accounts from these regions don’t date back quite far enough for us to know what specific traditions occurred during that time, the historical accounts we do have paint the summer solstice as a time to celebrate the sun, sacred fire, healing waters, and the bounty of the land – a brief repose from other agricultural festivals throughout the year which came with the toil of sewing and harvest.

Bonfires were held, often on hilltops, to send up prayers for fertility and much-needed rainfall. In Celtic traditions, burning wheels were sent downhill to symbolize the cycle of the sun. The Sioux, Natchez, Hopi, and numerous other Native American groups performed ceremonial sun dances. The Vikings met to resolve legal matters and other disputes. Ancient Romans made merry at temples of Fortuna. Other relevant festivals include the Slavic Kupala Night from Proto-Slavic kǫpati (to bathe) and the Feast of Epona, a Gaulish protector of horses and mules.

In addition to seasonal celebrations, the time around the summer solstice was (and still is) a popular time for weddings. The month of June itself was named for the goddess Juno, whose domain included marriage. In some traditions, May was considered a time of marriage between gods and was, therefore, making the month which followed a much more appropriate time for mortal weddings. Further, the etymology of the term “honeymoon” may – though evidence is scarce – trace back to the Anglo-Saxon full moon of June being dubbed the Honey Moon. As the observation became Christianized, it also became a popular time for baptisms.

With the advent of Christianity, the observation of the summer solstice became a celebration of Saint John the Baptist, whose birthday was said to be on June 24th, exactly six months before the birthday of Jesus Christ. Biblically, John 3:30 states: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This was in reference to St. John’s role as the preparer of the way for the importance of Christ, which serves as a mirror for the cyclical battle between day and night for dominance of the skies. The celebration started with a vigil on St. John’s Eve. Doors were dressed with St. John’s wort, birch, fennel, white lilies, and oil lamps which burned through the night. The next morning, as with prior Midsummer celebrations, St. John’s Day was celebrated with fire: One of clean bones called a bonfire, one of clean wood called a wakefire, and one of both bones and wood called St. John’s Fire. The latter was said to drive away dragons, witches, and evil spirits, and women in Cologne would go to the Rhine River to wash away any lingering threats.

The name Litha as it is used by its observers today comes from the reconstructed Germanic calendar, which refers to the months we know as June and July as Líða. This was further popularized by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings series, in which the month of June is called Lithe (the Bree Calendar) and Forelithe (the Shire Calendar). Today, festivals dedicated to the summer solstice continue all over the world. One of the most well-known festivals, next to the observation at Stonehenge, is that of the Sankthansaften (St. John’s Eve) in Denmark, celebrated with traditional Midsummer music, fireworks, and massive bonfires. In New York, a free all-day outdoor yoga event covers the Times Square. California holds a multi-day Summer Solstice Celebration in Santa Barbara. In Sweden, it’s such a significant day that there have been proposals to celebrate the day as the National Day of Sweden, and Midsummer has even made its way to the status of a public holiday in places like Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania. It’s also worth noting that this just barely scratches the surface of the number of modern day summer solstice observations.

In Khthonic Wicca

In Persephone’s cyclical seasonal journey, Persephone and Demeter thrive in their reunion as mother and daughter, and lifeforce energy upon Gaia is at an all-time high. The solar energy of Helios has reached its very peak with the continued assistance of Apollon, Hemera, and Aither. This is the final burst of energy we will receive before we begin our journey inward.

In domain, Apollon may be honored as a parallel to St. John and other solar gods throughout history, with Helios, Hemera, and Aither honored beside him as deities of Sol, day, and light. Hera should most definitely be included in any wedding festivities, especially since we honor her during the month of June in general. Poseidon may also be honored for both his water aspects and his connection with horses. I would also add Dike, per my personal associations for her. As with every Khthonic Wiccan observance of the sabbat, we also take time at Litha to offer prayer to the Sacred Triad, to the Olympioi, and to the Protogenoi in accordance with seasonal shifts in energies.

As acts of service around this time of year, the most appropriate thing to do is to take on or assist in solar energy projects.

Sabbat Correspondences

As mentioned in the previous section, the best possible parallel for St. John on this particular path would be Apollon, with Hera and Poseidon serving as parallels for other deities honored at this time.

In Wicca, we reach the end of Divine Youth – the Maiden Goddess and the Youth God. The two figures are now joined in marriage and in love, and, and the Maiden Goddess becomes the Mother Goddess as she is impregnated by the Warrior God soon to reach the height of his power. Kosmos gives way to Existence. Gaia gives way to the Tangible. Courtesy of Persephone, Vibrant Life can now be seen everywhere you look.

Plants: St. John’s Wort, Honeysuckle, Sweetgrass, Sandalwood, Oak
Minerals: Sunstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Gold
Colors: Gold, Orange, Yellow, Blue White
Animals: Bull, Horse, Eagle, Frog, Hippogriff
Symbols: Solar Wheels, Solar Crosses, Pinwheels, Seashells, Merfolk
Tarot: The Sun, Strength, The World

Litha Ritual Ideas

If you are able to, a prayer to Helios, Apollon, Hemera, and Aither at sunrise is a perfect way to start your Litha morning, followed by day of barbecuing, swimming, and merrymaking and an evening punctuated by a bonfire. Litha should not be a stressful celebration by any means.

You may also choose to charge water with solar energy today to use for mopping the home and helping to keep that solar energy in your space as we approach the coming darkness of autumn and winter. In addition, I like to charge any charms I’ve made for success, confidence, and creativity in the Litha sunlight. You can hang the charm in your workspace or carry the charm on your person for added confidence when out and about, depending on what your particular needs are.

I also like to collect rainwater when necessary during the summer for any healing work I may have to do. Just be sure to keep an eye on it for any signs of mildew if you plan to keep it on hand for a bit.

Litha Spread Ideas

If you’re doing a barbecue, you have so many simple options – beef, pork, chicken, lamb. Everything tastes good when grilled. For those who don’t eat meat, I’m a big fan of barbecued carrots. This goes super well with a refreshing summer fruit salad (with Tajín for a little zest, if that’s your thing) and a pitcher of sun-made southern sweet tea with lemon. You could also do any type of citrus water, juice, or wine you prefer.

For an indoor meal, my preference is a creamy lemon chicken dish – whether on its own or in a pasta – with a healthy heap of sundried tomatoes. Roasted summer squash makes the perfect side for this.

For Your Reference

The Digital Grimoire provides a plethora of free resources on witchcraft, Khthonic Wicca, and more. As of today, a quick reference for Litha has been added to the Sabbats subsection, available here on my website any time you should need it. Until my next article, have a very blessed Beltane!

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