Midsummer 2004
Either today or yesterday is/was the first day of summer, depending on which calendar I'm looking at. That means that it is the Sabbat of Midsummer/Summer Solstice/Litha. Now, quite frankly, this is my second least favourite Sabbat. I suppose that is a funny thing to say about a religious holiday, but I really dislike summer and Midsummer heralds its beginning. (Lammas, on August 2nd, is my least favourite, since here in Southern Ontario we are into the 35°C+ weather.)
The purpose of Midsummer depends on which myth cycle you choose to follow. In both the Goddess cycle and the Corn King cycle, the Goddess is at the height of Her fertility on this Sabbat. She has become pregnant from Her Beltain tryst with the God. Conversely, some Wiccan see this Sabbat, instead of Beltain, as the marriage and conception. In the Holly King/Oak King cycle, the two Kings fight today. The Oak King is the victor and the Holly King is reborn as an infant, growing towards the next battle at Winter Solstice.
Midsummer is the midpoint of the Light Half of the Wheel of the Year, and falls in the South. It is the longest day and shortest night in the northern hemisphere, and starting tomorrow the nights will be begin to increase in length again. Truthfully, I look forward to that. I like my nights dark and cozy, as opposed to hot and bright.
- nyla replied on June 22, 2004 9:38 AM:
You are the only Pagan I've ever heard express the same feelings about Midsummer that I have. Glad I'm not alone.
![[winking face]](/blog/img/smilies/wink.gif)
I must say though, it was a beautiful cool Midsummer day by me, so I didn't mind so much this year.
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Very interesting. In my Tradition, Midsummer is well, the middle of Summer (Summer starts at Beltaine), and it's the time that Summer begins to wane --- although you can't tell by the heat; maybe it's true in some part of the world, but not Kentucky?? LOL Tarvos eats Otherworld golden apples served up by Rhiannon and begins to weaken (ie, the Solstice is the longest day of the year, and the sun's energy begins to wane thereafter). At Lughnassad, Tarvos marries the Corn Mother, who personifies Death, which really begins his decline. He is "officially" slain at the New Moon in October (New Blood Moon), and we mourn his death at Samhain. ((I love how everyone's traditions are different))