The winter solstice, also known as Yule, is a significant holiday in pagan traditions. It is the longest night and the shortest day of the year, marking the official start of winter. Pagans celebrate this holiday to honor the cycles of nature and the rebirth of the sun. The solstice has been observed and revered by various cultures and religions throughout history. In pagan belief systems, it holds great importance as a time of renewal and spiritual awakening. Many pagans see the solstice as the beginning of a new cycle, a time to let go of the old and welcome the new.
The tradition of burning a Yule log is believed to have come from Germanic and Scandinavian pagan practices, though it’s often incorporated into Christmas celebrations as well.
I am Scandinavian so Yule could be the way I work with it, but I prefer Winter Solstice in my personal practice, said Olsen, who has been practicing for over 25 years. Other Summer Solstice traditions surround the ashes from a midsummer bonfire, which can be used as a protection against misfortune by being formed into an amulet, or spread across a garden to ensure a good harvest.
Many pagans see the solstice as the beginning of a new cycle, a time to let go of the old and welcome the new. During the solstice holiday, pagans engage in various rituals and ceremonies. Bonfires are lit to symbolize the return of the sun and provide light and warmth during the darkest time of the year.
Why do we celebrate the Summer Solstice?
First things first! The term ‘solstice’ can be traced back to the Latin word ‘solstitium’, combining the words ‘sol’, meaning sun, and ‘-stit’ or ‘-stes’, meaning standing or still. The name derives from the Romans’ observation that during a solstice, the sun’s position in the sky at noon didn’t seem to change much throughout the day, but instead appeared motionless.
Astronomically speaking…
The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the end of spring and the start of the astronomical summer. It takes place between 20 th and 22 nd June each year, the reason for the shift in date boiling down to the fact that our calendar doesn’t precisely reflect the Earth’s rotation, and so we have to allow some wiggle room!
Both the summer and winter solstices form part of a wider astronomical calendar, flanked by two equinoxes in the spring and the autumn, and other daily and monthly cycles throughout the year. Incidentally, ‘equinox’ comes from the Latin ‘equi’ meaning equal, and ‘nox’ meaning night. On these two dates, day and night are of equal length before the days begin to get either lighter in the spring, or darker in the autumn.
During the solstices, the Earth’s axis tilts us at either our closest or farthest point from the sun. The hemisphere tilted most towards the sun sees its longest day and shortest night (the Summer Solstice), whilst the hemisphere tilted away from the sun sees its shortest day and longest night (the Winter Solstice.)
Prehistoric significance
Now that’s the science of a solstice explained (phew!), but just why do we humans place so much significance on the solstices and the days surrounding them? We know that the solstices certainly held importance for Neolithic humans, who may initially have started to observe the Summer Solstice as a marker for planting and harvesting crops. Stonehenge, our most famous Neolithic monument, was certainly built to reflect the solstices, and it has long been debated whether one of its functions was to act as ancient solar calendar. The site’s megaliths are aligned with the direction of the sunrise on the Summer Solstice, with the sarsen stones lined up to trace the movements of the sun. It’s likely that on the solstices people gathered at the monument to celebrate, though little archaeological evidence remains of the ceremonies that may have taken place there.
Interestingly, Archaeoastronomers (yes that’s an actual job, amazing!) think that the midwinter solstice may actually have been the more important focus for the builders of Stonehenge, due to the entire monument’s alignment facing toward the setting midwinter sun. As you enter the site along the main avenue and walk towards the standing stones, the position of the Winter Solstice’s sunset is the main focus directly ahead, perhaps in the same way that the most important parts of a church are located ahead of you as you enter. There’s a WEALTH of information on Stonehenge’s association with the solstices on the English Heritage website, and we fully encourage you to fall down that rabbit hole and check it out!
The Summer Solstice throughout history
Our fascination with the solstices didn’t end with our Neolithic ancestors. According to some ancient Greek calendars, the Summer Solstice marked the start of the New Year, and began the one-month countdown to the opening of the famous Olympic games. In the days leading up to the Summer Solstice, the Romans celebrated the Vestalia, a religious festival to honour Vesta, goddess of the home and hearth. Before the rise of Christianity, Slavic, Germanic and Celtic tribes celebrated the midsummer with bonfires, believing that they would boost the sun’s energy and guarantee a good harvest. It was believed that bonfires could also help banish demons and evil spirits. Following the establishment of the Christian church, solstice celebrations were often combined with St John the Baptist’s Day on the 24 th June, the date of Midsummer’s Day.
N.B. The Summer Solstice and Midsummer’s Day are actually separate dates, with the later falling on the 24 th June. Midsummer is often now referred to as the period of time commencing with the Summer Solstice and leading up to Midsummer’s Day.
Significance of the solstice in Paganism
Today, the celebration of the solstices is mostly strongly associated with Paganism. The Pagan festival of Litha is one of the most important in the Pagan religion, commencing on the eve of the Summer Solstice it celebrates the midsummer and the power of the sun god. Magic is thought to be strongest during the Summer Solstice, and it’s also the time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest, eep! According to Pagan folklore, evil spirits in particular may walk the earth more freely at this time, and in order to ward them off, people wear protective garlands of herbs and flowers. One of the most powerful of these is the ‘chase devil’, also known as St. John’s Wort, because of its association with St. John’s Day.
Other Summer Solstice traditions surround the ashes from a midsummer bonfire, which can be used as a protection against misfortune by being formed into an amulet, or spread across a garden to ensure a good harvest. ‘Sunwheels’ were also used to celebrate midsummer in some Pagan communities. A wheel or ball of straw was lit on fire and rolled down a hill into a river. It was believed that if the fire went out before hitting the water then a good harvest was guaranteed.
Maypole in Eaton Socon c.1914 – picture credit: Cambridgeshire Community Archive Network
Local traditions
Over the centuries, the June solstice has inspired many midsummer celebrations involving bonfires, singing, and Maypole dancing. Many towns and villages across Britain still mark the day with fairs and festivals, like the one that takes place on Midsummer Common in Cambridge.
Local historian C.F. Tebbutt records in his writings a few other local traditions that took place in Huntingdonshire. In Bluntisham in the late 19th century, a midsummer feast was once held, with stalls selling sweets and gingerbread, and a garlanded hoop hung over the street. Records from Waresely in 1679 record the firing of blanks from guns at a midsummer festival, intended to scare away fairies and evil spirits. Finally, court records from Stilton in 1830 tell of one Thomas Wade, who was brought before a court for “walking up and down disguised by having a pair of painted ram’s horns on his head and a green veil over his face… at the same time also making strange and frightful noises…” Though whether this was actually to do with midsummer celebrations is anyone’s guess!
And there we have it! It can’t be denied that the Summer Solstice is a significant occasion astronomically, spiritually and historically. However you choose to mark the day (though we’d recommend not taking inspiration from Mr Wade), be sure to enjoy the longest day to its fullest!
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Capture1.png 548 794 Kelly Garner https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg Kelly Garner 2020-06-19 10:38:30 2020-06-19 10:40:32 Why do we celebrate the Summer Solstice?
Latest articles
- May: Coronation 1953 2 May 2023 - 8:26 pm
- St Neots in the time of Elizabeth II: 1926 – 2022 2 November 2022 - 4:07 pm
- July: Bread riot in St Neots, 1795 13 July 2022 - 8:32 pm
- June: Swimming in St Neots 13 June 2022 - 8:44 pm
- St Neots links to Royalty 1 May 2022 - 6:38 pm
Every year, the coven does a different mythos of the solstice from around the world. “For this year, we’re doing traditional Celtic view on it with the death of the Holly King and then the re-birth of the Oak King,” said Syleena.
Some pagans may perform rituals to honor their ancestors, while others focus on giving thanks for the blessings of the past year. Decorating homes and altars with evergreens, holly, and mistletoe is a common practice during the solstice. These plants are seen as symbols of fertility, protection, and rebirth. Many pagans also exchange gifts with loved ones, expressing gratitude and spreading joy. The solstice holiday is deeply rooted in pagan traditions and beliefs, but it has also influenced modern celebrations such as Christmas. Many customs associated with Christmas, such as the Yule log and the decorating of trees, can be traced back to pagan solstice traditions. The solstice holiday reminds pagans of the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things. It is a time to reflect on the past year, set intentions for the future, and embrace the return of the light. It brings communities together and fosters a sense of unity and spirituality. In conclusion, the solstice holiday holds a special place in pagan traditions. It is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun, honor the cycles of nature, and connect with our ancestral roots. Pagans use this occasion to reflect, give thanks, and welcome the new year with hope and joy..
Reviews for "The Sacred Solstice: A Pagan Perspective on the Holiday Season"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars - "I did not enjoy the Solstice Holiday Pagan at all. The writing was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. Additionally, the plot had no clear direction and seemed to jump around without purpose. Overall, I found it to be a very unsatisfying read, and I would not recommend it to others."
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - "I had high hopes for Solstice Holiday Pagan, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest often. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat for me. I was disappointed by the lack of depth and development in both the storyline and the characters."
3. Mark - 2 out of 5 stars - "Solstice Holiday Pagan was not my cup of tea. The writing style was too flowery and pretentious for my taste, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story. I also found the plot to be predictable and cliché. Additionally, the author seemed more focused on creating a mystical atmosphere rather than developing meaningful characters or an engaging storyline. It just didn't resonate with me, and I wouldn't recommend it to others."