Litha

Litha (LITH-ah) takes place on June 20^th-23^rd.  

Also known as Summer Solstice, Midsummer, Midsummer's Eve, Alban Heruin, Alban Hefin, Gathering Day, Vestalia, La Festa dell'Estate (Summer Fest), the Day of the Green Man, Longest day of the year, Sun Blessing, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, the Feast of Epona, All-Couple's Day, St. John's Day.

The Litha Sabbat is a time to celebrate both work and leisure, it is a time for children and childlike play. It is a time to celebrate the ending of the waxing year and the beginning of the waning year, in preparation for the harvest to come. Midsummer is a time to absorb the Sun's warming rays and it is another fertility Sabbat, not only for humans, but also for crops and animals. Wiccans consider the Goddess to be heavy with pregnancy from the mating at Beltane - honor is given to Her. The Sun God is celebrated as the Sun is at its peak in the sky and we celebrate His approaching fatherhood - honor is also given to Him. The faeries abound at this time and it is customary to leave offerings - such as food or herbs - for them in the evening.

The Oak King rules from Midwinter to Midsummer, the period of fertility, expansion and growth, and the Holly King reigns from Midsummer to Midwinter, the period of harvest, withdrawal and wisdom. They are light and dark twins, each being the other's alternate self, thus being one. Each represents a necessary phase in the natural rhythm; therefore, both are good. At the two changeover points, they symbolically meet in combat. The incoming twin -- the Oak King at Midwinter, the Holly King at Midsummer -- "slays" the outgoing one. But the defeated twin is not considered dead -- he has merely withdrawn during the six months of his brother's rule.

Faeries, sprites and field/forest elves gather on Midsummer Night making it the perfect time to attempt to communicate with them. Or try to spot them by sitting still and calmly in a garden; preferably around oak trees. It is also the best time to perform magic for love, healing, and prosperity as well as performing blessings and protection spells for your pets as well as all other animals. 

Songs: Solstice Call, Noon of the Solstice, The Sun Who’s Rays are all Ablaze, Walking on Sunshine, Steal my Sunshine, Weaving the Summer, Sumer Is Icumen In, Sunshine of your Love, Sunshine Superman, You are my Sunshine, Summer of Love.

Activities: Perform a ceremony of self-dedication or rededication to your spiritual path, Hang your sun wheels on trees in your yard and decorate them with yellow and gold ribbons and summer herbs, Gather Herbs (they are said to be extremely powerful when gathered on this day), Have a mock battle between the Oak and Holly Kings, Pick Herbs and Dry them, Make a wreath for your door with yellow feathers for prosperity and red feathers for sexuality tied together with ivy, Have a Bonfire, Jump (Carefully!) over the bonfire for prosperity and protection, Make a Wicker Man and burn him in the fire, Go Berry Picking, Leave out Milk and Honey for the Faeries, Watch the Sunset, Try Fire Divination with your Bonfire, Make a Dream Pillow, Make a Staff, Spend as much time as you can outdoors, This is the perfect time to Preform a Handfasting, Go Swimming, Sunbathe (carefully with sunblock). 

Foods: Fresh Fruit and Vegetables from your Garden, Lemon, Lettuce, Citrus Fruits, Light/Sun Tea, Ginger/Candied Ginger, New Potatoes, Candied Citrus Peel, Blackberries, Cherries, Salmon, Onions, Peas, Summer Squash, Mint, Radishes, Chicken, Pork, Blueberries, Mead, Ale, Honey, Fresh Fruit Juice, Herbal Tea, Pumpernickel Bread, Asparagus, Berries, Light Dairy (like Whipped Cream, and Soft Cheese), Fruit Salad, Passion Fruit, Homemade Herb Butter, Berry Pies, Peaches, Oranges, Fish, Spicy Foods, Grilled/BBQed Meat and Vegetables, Strawberries, Dandelion Leaves, Sorbet, Any Red and Yellow Foods, Flaming Foods.

Colors: Red, White, Yellow, Gold, Blue, Green, Tan, 

Symbols: Fire, Fairies, Sunflowers, The Sun, Bonfires, Fruits/Berries, Oak Trees, Sun wheels, Blades, Seashells, Mistletoe, Fruits, Roses.

Stones: Emerald, Jade, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Tiger’s Eye.

Herbs: Oak , Roses , Lavender, Lemon , St. John's Wort , Chamomile,  Fennel , Fern , Ylang-ylang, Frankincense, Mugwart, Galangal,  Hemp, Mistletoe, Saffron , Vervain, Pine, Rosemary, Wild/Thyme, Cinquefoil, Elder, Copal, Larkspur, Heliotrope, Laurel, Wisteria, Sandalwood, Verbena, Yarrow, Burdock, Nettle, Thorn, Orpine, Birch, Tarragon. 

Flowers: Lavender, Roses, Sunflowers, Lily, Honeysuckle, Ivy, Carnation, Daisy, Clover, Bee Balm, Lily of the Valley, Marigolds.   

Incense: Rose, Lemon, Pine, Wisteria, Myrrh.

Gods: All Father Gods and Sun Deities, The Green Man, Apollo, Zeus, Thor, Ares, Ra, Sol, Lugh, Dagda, Helios, Oak/Holly King, Prometheus , Llew, Gwydion, Aten, Horus, Aine.

Goddesses: All Mother Goddesses, Aphrodite, Freya , Astarte, Venus, Juno , Hathor, Isis , Athena, Dana, Artemis, Hestia, Kali, Ishtar, Amaterasu.