Litha and Its Lore

Litha (pronounced "LITH-ah") is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats and
is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the
20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth's rotation around the Sun
(check the calendar). According to the old folklore calendar, Summer
begins on Beltane (May 1st) and ends on Lughnassadh (August 1st),
with the Summer Solstice midway between the two, marking MID-Summer.
This makes more logical sense than suggesting that Summer begins on
the day when the Sun's power begins to wane and the days grow
shorter...

The most common other names for this holiday are the Summer Solstice
or Midsummer, and it celebrates the arrival of Summer, when the
hours of daylight are longest. The Sun is now at the highest point
before beginning its slide into darkness. Other names for this time
in the Wheel of the Year include Alban Heruin, (Caledonii or the
Druids), Alban Hefin (Anglo-Saxon Tradition), Sun Blessing,
Gathering Day (Welsh), Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia (Ancient
Roman), the Feast of Epona (Ancient Gaulish), All-Couple's Day
(Greek), and St. John's Day. Scottish Pecti-Witans celebrate Feill-
Sheathain on July 5th. In the Italian tradition of Aridian Strega,
this Sabbat (Strega Witches call them Treguendas rather than
Sabbats) is known as Summer Fest - La Festa dell'Estate.
Scandinavians celebrate this holiday at a later date and call it
Thing-Tide. In England, June 21st is "The Day of Cerridwen and Her
Cauldron". And in Ireland, this day is dedicated to the faery
goddess Aine of Knockaine. And finally, in Northern Europe - June
21st is "The Day of the Green Man".

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.

Symbols to represent the Litha Sabbat are such things as fire, the
Sun, blades, mistletoe, oak trees, balefires, Sun wheels and
faeries. Altar decorations might include Summertime flowers -
especially sunflowers - love amulets, seashells, aromatic potpourri
and Summer fruits. If you made Sun wheels at Imbolc, you should now
display them prominently. Hang them from the ceiling or place them
on trees in your yard. You may also want to decorate them with
yellow and gold ribbons and Summer herbs.

Deities associated with Litha include all Father Gods and Mother
Goddesses, Pregnant Goddesses and Sun Deities. Particular emphasis
might be placed on the Goddesses Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Hathor,
Ishtar, Venus and other Goddesses who preside over love, passion and
beauty. Other Litha deities include Athena, Artemis, Dana, Kali,
Isis, Juno, Apollo, Dagda, Gwydion, Helios, Llew, Oak/Holly King,
Lugh, Ra, Sol, Zeus, Prometheus, Ares, and Thor.

The cycle of fertility has been expressed in many god-forms. One
pair of these - which has persisted from early Pagan times to modern
folklore - is that of the Oak King and the Holly King, Gods
respectively of the Waxing Year and the Waning Year. The Oak King
rules from Midwinter to Midsummer - the period of Fertility,
Expansion and Growth; while the Holly King reigns from Midsummer to
Midwinter - the period of Harvest, Withdrawal and Wisdom. They are
the 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 actually considered dead - he has
merely withdrawn during the six months of his brother's rule.

On Midsummer Night, field and forest elves, sprites, and fairies
abound in great numbers - making this a great time to commune with
them. Litha is considered one of the best times to perform magicks
of all kinds, for it is considered a time of great magickal power.
Especially effective magick and spells at this time include the
performance of those for love, healing and prosperity. A wreath can
be made for your door with yellow feathers for prosperity and red
feathers for sexuality - intertwined and tied together with ivy.
This is also a very good time to perform blessings and protection
spells for your pets or other animals. You may want to choose to
include your pet within your cast Circle at this Sabbat celebration,
and even present him or her with a special gift (such as a tiny
pentacle to attach to his or her collar). I have done this and found
it very rewarding and heartwarming.

Nurturing and love are key actions related to Midsummer. If you
haven't yet done so, Litha is a good time to perform your Self-
Dedication Ceremony... or - if you have been practicing Wicca for a
while - you may choose to perform a simple Re-dedication/Affirmation
as a part of your Sabbat celebration. Ritual actions for Litha might
include placing a flower-ringed cauldron upon your altar, plunging
of the sword (or athame) into the cauldron, balefire leaping
(outdoors) and the gathering and drying of herbs. Herbs can be dried
over the ritual fire if you're celebrating outdoors. Leap the
bonfire for purification and renewed energy. Ritually, use mirrors
to capture the light of the Sun or the flames of the fire. Some
things that are considered taboo on this holiday are giving away
fire, sleeping away from home, and neglecting animals.

Colors associated with the Summer Solstice include white, red, maize
yellow or golden yellow, green, blue and tan. Altar candles could be
either a combination of blue, green, and yellow --- or red and gold.
Stones to use during Litha include all green gemstones, especially
emerald and jade. Other appropriate gemstones are tiger's eye, lapis
lazuli and diamonds. Animals associated with this Sabbat include
robins, wrens, all Summer birds, horses and cattle. Mythical
creatures include satyrs, faeries, firebirds, dragons, thunderbirds
and manticores.

Plants associated with Midsummer are oak, mistletoe, frankincense,
lemon, sandalwood, heliotrope, copal, saffron, galangal, laurel and
ylang-ylang. Herbs associated with this Sabbat are chamomile,
cinquefoil, elder, fennel, hemp, larkspur, lavender, male fern,
mugwort, pine, roses, Saint John's wort, wild thyme, wisteria and
verbena. Traditionally, herbs gathered on this day are extremely
powerful. Incense for the Litha Sabbat Ritual might be a combination
of any of the following or simply one of them by itself...
frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, lemon, pine, jasmine, rose, lotus,
or wysteria.

Traditional Pagan foods for Litha include fresh vegetables of all
kinds and fresh fruits such as lemons and oranges. Other standard
fare may be pumpernickel bread as well as Summer squash and any
yellow or orange colored foods. Flaming foods are also appropriate.
Traditional drinks are ale, mead, and fresh fruit juice of any kind.

Author unknown.

This was taken from the Yahoo! Group "Magic Light."