Litha marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It is the time to realize and celebrate the power of the God at full strength. He is the lord of the forest, the Green Man hidden in plain sight in churches all over Europe. In some traditions, this is the time when the Oak King, ruler of the light half of the year, is defeated in battle by the Holly King. Though it’s early in the season (June 20-22) and the hottest days of summer still lie ahead, from this point on the hours of light grow ever shorter.
While many of the other Sabbats honour the God in part, the focus seems to shift more towards the Goddess. By contrast, the focus at Litha is nearly always on paying homage to the power of the sun and masculine energies and rituals should be held at noon, when the sun is highest in the heavens.
Not surprisingly, fire is an important part of Litha celebrations. Burning balefires were believed to help strengthen the sun. Torchlight processions were common and burning gorse was carried around the livestock to prevent disease and misfortune. Folk would dance around the bonfires, or leap through them as a fortifying or cleansing rite. One of the most interesting practices was that of constructing wheels bound with straw, setting them alight and rolling them down steep hillsides. In fact, this my be one of the few examples of truly ancient rituals surviving almost unchanged to the present day.
Sun worship is one of the oldest forms of religion in existence and the most recognized symbol of that worship is the Solar Wheel, representing the motion of the sun. The wheel has appeared on coins, in statues, pottery and in print for over five thousand years! The custom is mentioned in a German work that was published in the mid 16th century: The Regnum Papisticum by Thomas Naogeorgus
“Some others get a rotten wheele, all worn and cast aside
Which covered around about with strawe and tow, they closely hide;
And caryed to some mountaine’s top, being all with fire alight,
They hurle it downe with violence, when darke appeares the night :
Resembling much the sunne, that from the heavens down should fal,
A strange and monstrous sight it semes, and fearful to them all.
But they suppose the mischiefs all are likewise throwne to hell,
And that from harmes and daungers now in safetie here they dwell.”
Which covered around about with strawe and tow, they closely hide;
And caryed to some mountaine’s top, being all with fire alight,
They hurle it downe with violence, when darke appeares the night :
Resembling much the sunne, that from the heavens down should fal,
A strange and monstrous sight it semes, and fearful to them all.
But they suppose the mischiefs all are likewise throwne to hell,
And that from harmes and daungers now in safetie here they dwell.”
This seems to have been quite a popular custom in Northern Europe and was practiced right up to modern times. In 1909, an account was published by a folklorist of a very similar custom in Wales in the 1820s.
“People conveyed trusses of straw to the top of the hill, where men and youths waited for the contributions. Women and girls were stationed at the bottom of the hill. Then a large cart wheel was thickly swathed with straw and not an inch of wood was left in sight. A pole was inserted through the centre of the wheel, so that long ends extended about a yard on each side. If any straw remained, it was made up into torches at the top of tall sticks. At a given signal the wheel was lighted and set rolling downhill. If this fire-wheel went out before it reached the bottom of the hill, a very poor harvest was promised. If it kept lighted all the way down, and continued blazing for a long time, the harvest would be exceptionally abundant. Loud cheers and shouts celebrated the progress of the wheel.”
Whether it was done to ward off evil, predict the outcome of the harvest, summon fertility and prosperity or just to symbolize the sun’s descent into darkness, it is humbling to understand how very old it really is.
Though I don’t recommend setting something on fire and rolling it down a hill, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Litha. Use a candle to represent the Midsummer balefires, or have a bonfire if conditions and location permit.
The ashes from the Litha fire can be made into a protective amulet by pouring them into a small pouch or kneading them into soft clay and making a talisman. Some believe this will protect you from adversity. You could also sow the ashes into the garden to ensure a good harvest.
Along with Beltane and Samhain, Litha is a night for the Fae. They caper and dance around the fires, playing tricks on unwary humans. It is said that you can get a glimpse of the faery folk by peering through a rowan loop or through a hagstone (a stone with a natural hole). Be quick! If you blink, they will disappear!
With the full heat of summer still looming, place an offering in or near a water source to encourage a continued supply to thirsty crops. Or float paper boats with blessings down a stream.
In Wales, Litha is also known as Gathering Day as many magickal and healing herbs are maturing and are ready to be collected and dried for use in the winter.
Litha is a good time for marriages as well. Handfasted couples from the previous Beltane have completed their year and a day trial and can make the arrangement permanent if so desired. It’s also a good time for couples to renew their vows and rekindle their romance.
Romantic divination is also popular at this time. Gaze deep into your Litha fire and see what the Sun God has to say…
Make a Paper Boat
In this digital age, instructions are easy to find. And if the pictures are hard to understand, there’s always YouTube!
Make a Flower Crown
Celebrate the season by wearing a beautiful flower crown at the Litha festivities! (If you would prefer to enjoy real flowers in the garden, get the best of both worlds by using imitation flowers from a craft store.)
Make a Staff or Wand
Staffs and wands both represent masculine energies, so this is a great time to make them! The instructions for both are very similar, size is the major difference.
Natural Twisted Box Elder Maple Wood As a general rule, wands should be the length of your arm from the crook of the elbow to the tip of your middle finger. They can be as thick or thin as you like, but keep in mind comfort and durability!
Staffs should be between shoulder height to the top of your head and thick enough to be held comfortably in the hand, often between 1-2” (2.5-5 cm).
These measurements are guidelines only, your staff and your wand are personal items; make them whatever size feels right to you!
Though I’ve seen staffs and wands made from other materials, they are usually made of wood. In some traditions, the type of wood is very important as different woods have different magickal qualities. Oak, willow and ash are popular choices, though any kind of wood will work to direct the flow of energies.
Though I’ve seen staffs and wands made from other materials, they are usually made of wood. In some traditions, the type of wood is very important as different woods have different magickal qualities. Oak, willow and ash are popular choices, though any kind of wood will work to direct the flow of energies.
Take a walk in a wooded area to find a suitable branch. If you can, take one that has already fallen to the ground. If the branch you want is still on the tree, make sure you ask permission before cutting it, and respect the answer! Whether you find a branch or cut one, thank the tree that gave it to you and leave an offering of some kind.
Trim the branch to the right size for you and remove any twigs, bark or leaves. Sand the branch to get a smooth surface. You now have a functional wand or staff! Some prefer to leave it as natural as possible, others add meaningful decorative touches.
If you wish, use a sharp knife to whittle a handle. You can carve or burn runes, sigils or other designs into the wood if you desire. You could wrap the handle or other portion in wire, ribbon or leather. Attach a crystal to one end with glue and/or leather wrappings. For a staff, you might drill a small hole at the top for a leather thong to go around your wrist. Make it yours!
If you wish, use a sharp knife to whittle a handle. You can carve or burn runes, sigils or other designs into the wood if you desire. You could wrap the handle or other portion in wire, ribbon or leather. Attach a crystal to one end with glue and/or leather wrappings. For a staff, you might drill a small hole at the top for a leather thong to go around your wrist. Make it yours!
Sunny skies, warming breezes, blooming flowers, growing crops: what a glorious time to spend the days outside, getting back to nature!
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