In the enchanting world of magic, Halloween takes on a whole new level of mysticism and wonder. It is a time when witches and wizards come out to play, casting spells and brewing potions under the moonlit sky. The air is filled with an electric energy, as ghosts, goblins, and fantastical creatures roam the streets, spreading both terror and delight. The World of Magic Halloween is a spectacle like no other, where ordinary mortals get a glimpse into the extraordinary. The streets are decorated with pumpkins carved into intricate designs, their glowing faces illuminating the path for those brave enough to venture out after dark. Haunted houses spring up in every corner, inviting the daring souls to explore the unknown and face their deepest fears.
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!
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. 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.
Haunted houses spring up in every corner, inviting the daring souls to explore the unknown and face their deepest fears. The costumes worn on this magical night are not your typical store-bought ensembles. They are handmade and bewitched, possessing a life of their own.
Names of the Summer Solstice
Oh Summer Solstice! I love you as Midsummer! I also sometimes call you Litha, and can sort of appreciate you as the Feast of St. John the Baptist, but why do you have so many names? And the middle of Summer is early August, not June! You aren’t quite a vexing holiday, but I can see why you might be confusing to some people.
The other day one of my friends asked “Why is Midsummer called Midsummer?” I had an answer all lined up for her, but it was my wife’s birthday, and the World Cup was on. I’ve got priorities. Most of us probably acknowledge the Summer Solstice as the first day of Summer, but that’s not always been the case, which is how the first day of Summer came to be known as Midsummer.
A lot of early calendars (such as the Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon) only had two seasons in them-Summer and Winter. When Midsummer (and Midwinter) are looked at from that perspective they live up to their names. If the two seasons of Summer and Winter begin on the equinoxes then the solstices are true midway points.
There’s also another way to look at Midsummer and that’s by beginning the seasons at the Cross-Quarter holidays. If Imbolc is the start of Spring then Beltane is the start of Summer and Lughnassa is the start of Autumn. That puts the Summer Solstice back in the cross-hairs of being “Midsummer.”
People have never really let celestial events completely define the seasons to begin with. The agricultural cycle of a particular area determines “Summer” and “Winter” to some extent, as does culture. In some ways “Summer” stars when school lets out and “Fall” begins when kids have to go back. That’s how it worked for me growing up. American Civil Religion has turned the Fourth of July into a Patriotic Midsummer Holiday, and fire in the sky (fireworks) isn’t all that different from fire in the fields.
Only in the last five or so years have I consistently referred to the Summer Solstice as Midsummer. Before that I used the Modern Pagan alternative title of Litha. The word Litha comes to us from the English historian Bede writing in the early 700’s. In Bede Litha isn’t the name of a particular holiday it’s the name of an Anglo-Saxon month of double-length roughly matching up to the modern months of June and July. According to Bede the word litha means: “gentle or navigable, because in both those months the calm breezes are gentle and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea.” Because the old Anglo-Saxon calendar was lunar and not solar it was sometimes necessary to extend Litha into a third month, in such cases Litha became Trilithi.
Why do we use the word Litha in some Modern Pagan traditions? Well some people use it because it simply sounds more Pagan; for those attempting to recreate Anglo-Saxon traditions it’s certainly more Germanic than Midsummer. I’m not exactly sure, but if I had to credit any one particular group for introducing the word Litha into Contemporary Paganism I’d say it’s most likely The New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn (NROOGD) and Aidan Kelly*. Kelly is responsible for (or guilty of) most of the cool Pagan sounding name at the equinoxes and solstices, especially Mabon.
There’s another source for Litha that may have inspired Kelly and others and that’s J.R.R. Tolkien. Yes, that Tolkien, the guy who wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbits of the Shire celebrated Lithe as their Midsummer holiday. Between Lithe were the two months of Forelithe (June) and Afterlithe (July). Tolkien was inspired by Bede, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find a few Pagans out there inspired by Tolkien.
For a solid millennia (and most likely longer) Christians continued to celebrate the Summer Solstice after converting the majority of the pagans. They did this by moving most Midsummer traditions into the celebration of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Popping up as an official feast day on the Christian calendar 500 years after the death of Jesus (and John the Baptist) the holiday has always been a clever ploy to give the pagans something to do around the solstice.
St. John’s Feast Day is customarily celebrated on June 24 so it’s a couple days after the solstice (and depending on how messed up a calendar was during any particular era sometimes longer than just a few days), but that’s of little consequence. Most of our holiday traditions over the centuries have been shuffled around a little bit, what’s a few days? Bonfires, sacred smoke, and magical operations became a part of St. John’s Feast, with St. John’s Eve being just as important to many revelers and cunning-folk. St. John’s Feast Day is also regularly called Midsummer and was another holiday the Christians just couldn’t shake the pagan out of.
Whatever you celebrate and however you celebrate it, I hope your Midsummer is great!
*That hunch is backed up in this article, which I found while re-reading John Halstead’s Mabon, Mabon Not.
St. John’s Feast Day is customarily celebrated on June 24 so it’s a couple days after the solstice (and depending on how messed up a calendar was during any particular era sometimes longer than just a few days), but that’s of little consequence. Most of our holiday traditions over the centuries have been shuffled around a little bit, what’s a few days? Bonfires, sacred smoke, and magical operations became a part of St. John’s Feast, with St. John’s Eve being just as important to many revelers and cunning-folk. St. John’s Feast Day is also regularly called Midsummer and was another holiday the Christians just couldn’t shake the pagan out of.
Witches sport flowing black robes while wizards proudly wear their pointed hats and carry wands crafted from the finest magical wood. Magical creatures, such as fairies and unicorns, grace the celebrations with their ethereal presence, adding an air of enchantment to the festivities. During this mystical holiday, gatherings are held in grand castles and secret forests, where spellbinding performances take place. Magicians entertain the crowd with their mind-bending tricks, leaving everyone questioning what is real and what is illusion. The sound of laughter and gasps of awe fill the air as the night unfolds, revealing the true magic that lies within each of us. Of course, no World of Magic Halloween would be complete without a grand feast fit for the most discerning appetites. Tables are laden with delicacies that are beyond imagination, from cauldron cakes to bubbling potions that magically transform into delectable treats. The more adventurous diners may even partake in unusual dishes like dragonfire chili and goblin stew, for those brave enough to sample the extraordinary. As the night draws to a close, a sense of melancholy sweeps over the revelers. These magical moments cannot last forever, and the ordinary world beckons once again. But the memories of World of Magic Halloween remain, etched in the hearts of all those lucky enough to have experienced it. In the World of Magic Halloween, the lines between reality and fantasy blur, transporting us to a realm where anything is possible. It is a time when our imagination takes flight, and we embrace the supernatural in all its awe-inspiring glory. So, embrace the magic, let your imagination run wild, and step into a world where Halloween truly comes alive..
Reviews for "Celebrate Halloween in a world of magic and fantasy"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "World of Magic Halloween". The gameplay was repetitive, and there was no real challenge. The graphics were also subpar, and the game just lacked depth overall. I expected more from a Halloween-themed game, but this one fell short for me. I wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a fun and engaging gaming experience.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "World of Magic Halloween" was a complete letdown. The controls were clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to play. The levels were monotonous and lacked creativity. The game also had too many ads, which interrupted the flow of gameplay. I didn't enjoy the experience at all and felt like it was a waste of my time. Save yourself the trouble and find a better Halloween game to play.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "World of Magic Halloween," but it was a major disappointment. The storyline was weak, and the characters were not well-developed. The game seemed rushed, as if it was thrown together without much thought. The sound effects were annoying, and the overall design was lackluster. It's a shame because I love Halloween-themed games, but this one missed the mark completely.
4. Emily - 1 star - "World of Magic Halloween" was one of the worst games I've played. The levels were repetitive, and the difficulty didn't increase as you progressed. The game also had numerous bugs and glitches, which made it almost unplayable. The graphics were outdated, and the music was repetitive and annoying. I would not recommend wasting your time on this game; there are much better options out there.