On June 21st we welcome in the Summer Solstice – the official transition from Spring to Summer and the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours.
The Summer Solstice is also known as: Alban Heflin, Alben Heruin, All-couples day, Feast of Epona, Feast of St. John the Baptist, Feill-Sheathain, Gathering Day, Johannistag, Litha, Midsummer, Sonnwend, Thing-Tide, Vestalia, etc.
In pre-historic times, summer was a joyous time of the year for people who lived in the northern latitudes. Snow had disappeared; the ground had thawed; warm temperatures had returned; radiant flowers were blooming; and leaves had returned to the deciduous trees. Some herbs could be harvested, for medicinal and spiritual uses. Food was abundant and easier to find. The crops had already been planted and would be harvested in the months ahead. Although many months of warm/hot weather remained before the fall, the days were beginning to shorten, so that the return of the cold season was inevitable. [Read more…] about Summer Solstice
