Midsummer and/or Summer Solstice
Midsummer and/or Summer Solstice – the time of year when days have gotten longer, nights shorter, the weather has gotten warmer, and we are all enjoying the increased energy that comes from soaking up the sun.
With this increased energy, and the positive vibes that it creates, comes a natural desire to come together and celebrate.
These two celebration points in the current calendar were once one and the same but, as we shall see, became separate events. Although there has recently been a renewal of treating them as one and the same.
In this article we shall look at the history of this wonderful time of year and some of the fabulous ways in which it is celebrated. Let’s dive right in by looking at the difference between the two…
Midsummer
As mentioned above, Midsummer was the celebration of the Summer Solstice and was held on that same day.
Historically it marked the mid-point of the growing season, the halfway mark between planting and harvesting. This meant that farmers, and other growers, would consider the days around the Summer Solstice as the height, or middle, of Summer. Crops were established and the possible harvest could be celebrated.
Upon Christianity becoming more pronounced across the globe, Midsummer celebrations were moved to coincide with St. John the Baptist’s Day on 24th June. Midsummer Eve (on 23rd June) would be the start of the festivities and very often, in Britain, would continue until St. Peter’s Day on 29th June.
This entire period would loosely be termed “Midsummer” and various celebrations would be held throughout.
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is an astronomical event.
It is the longest day of the year when, in the Northern Hemisphere, the path of the sun is farthest North. This happens, under the Gregorian calendar, on 21st June.
The deep of winter is completely gone and the sun is seen on a more regular basis. The sun travels its longest path through the sky and even appears as though it stands still in the sky.
Astronomical summer is marked and this will last until the autumnal equinox in September.
Reunited
Though the previously united calendar points were divided and often celebrated separately, and in different fashions by different peoples, there has recently been a reunification of the two. Now it seems that many people use the terms Midsummer and Summer Solstice interchangeably (I prefer using Midsummer as I enjoy the idea of a prolonged period of celebrating).
Various traditional celebrations do exist throughout various points of the month of June and so perhaps we should take on the old way and add our own extension. Celebrating from 21st June to 29th June sounds like a fun eight days to me!
Celebrations
So now we know when and why we should celebrate we need to know how!
General Events
There were many different celebrations that took place during Midsummer. Some of these were very general and you could find similar celebrations taking place at other times of the year.
For example, during Midsummer people would generally decorate their homes, and even their churches, with greenery and other items representing nature and the sun.
Other types of general celebrations included:
Bonfires
The Midsummer period has always been associated with the element of fire and bonfires were a staple of celebrations throughout Britain.
These bonfire celebrations were used to bring the community together to enjoy good food, good company, and promote civil pride. There was also a belief that the smoke from the fires would purify the air which in urban areas was often very unpleasant.
Unfortunately the air purification belief was used as a tool to supress such celebrations. The church declared that this made it a superstitious practice. Although it appears that as long as the air “superstition” was not mentioned then the bonfires were allowed to go ahead…
Parades/Processions
Parades and processions were also a staple of general Midsummer fun. These were a way for those in more built up urban areas to celebrate and mark the Midsummer season.
Originally these began as musters of local watchmen who would be commanded to accompany the local aldermen, and the town mayor, in a parade through the streets. This may have begun as more of a show of authority to keep people’s behaviour in check. Over time though this was swept up into part of the celebration tradition.
Trade unions also began to have their own parades. Likely to allow their workers a break from the hum-drum pains of labour they endured on a daily basis.
These parades grew and grew until eventually they were large procession spectacles. Torch-lit wanderings including; armed, mounted and marching companies, drummers, trumpeters, giants, hobby horses, devils, and vivid depictions of famous local, and scripture, based stories.
A giant created for one such procession still exists, and can be seen, at the Salisbury Museum alongside his hob-nob friend.
Midsummer Only
Other celebrations were specific to the Midsummer period.
Midsummer Cushions
Children would take a cushion, cover it in silk or calico of vibrant colour, and decorate it with every type of flower they could find. These flowers would be arranged into decorative, often elaborately intricate, patterns.
They would then find a public spot, guaranteed to have many passers-by, and put their cushion on display. For the pleasure of viewing the cushion a penny would be requested from the passers-by – possibly by the use of a short rhyme.
There are also other reports of people decorating and keeping Midsummer Cushions in their homes as ornaments throughout the season.
Sheriff Election
Annual elections of the City of London Sheriffs is held on 24th June each year. The City Livery Companies, those companies that constitute the guilds of the city, elect 2 sheriffs – one alderman, and one non-alderman.
Historically these sheriffs would exercise the monarch’s authority over their citizens. More recently, however, the office of sheriff is expected to attend certain functions and support the Lord Mayor in their duties.
Simmer Dim Biker’s Rally
Simmer Dim is the Midsummer celebration period in Shetland, and is very important to the Shetland people.
The Sun never really sets there during this period and many celebrations are held. They have even created a gin which is especially for the season – Simmer Dim Gin.
Likely the most well-known event, held as part of the Simmer Dim celebrations, is Britain’s most northerly bike rally. Held annually around 21st June the Simmer Dim Biker’s Rally welcomes biker enthusiasts from all over. Many elements of the Shetland community get involved and the Rally is considered by many as a wonderfully social event.
Bawming the Thorn
In Appleton, Cheshire there is a tradition held on 29th June, or thereabouts, named Bawming the Thorn or Bawming Day.
Every year the local children decorate a thorn tree that stands in the centre of the village. They dance around it and sing the Bawming Song, then have a day of festivities including; sports, a tea, and a fancy dress parade.
The tree is believed to be an offshoot of the Holy Thorn grown from a piece of Joseph of Arimathea’s staff. This was brought to Appleton by a knight of the Crusades, a landowner in Cheshire, one Adam de Dutton – possibly from the Holy Thorn plant in Glastonbury.
As well as a time for celebrations – Midsummer is also a time of magic!
Divination
Though many believe that Midsummer is a time for Faery there is actually little evidence that Faery come to play at Midsummer. The Faery, in folk lore, prefer May Day to show themselves to the general populace.
The magic that is most associated with Midsummer tends to be divination, especially that to divine love!
General
As with the celebrations there are some general types of divination rituals held at Midsummer that you may find practiced at other times of the year. Here are some examples:
Church Porch
People would wait near the church at midnight on Midsummer Eve watching the church porchway.
Here they were likely to see the form of any member of the parish that would die in the next year.
Sewing the Hempseed
Girls would go out in the night and throw hemp seed over their shoulders.
When they turned the hemp would show them the form of their future husband.
Dumb Cakes
Several maids would gather together to make a cake called a dumb cake. This was a broad, thin cake made from a half flour, half salt recipe.
The maids would mark the cake in sections with their name, spaced so that the cake could be broken up.
The form of the future husband would appear, cut out their intended maids name, break it in two, and hand half to said maid. The maid would then usually eat the cake (possibly to ‘seal the deal’…).
Midsummer Only
Again, as with the celebrations, there are some divinations which only take place at Midsummer.
Midsummer Rose
Young women would pluck a full-bloom rose on Midsummer Day when the bells were tolling 12.
The rose would then be folded in white paper, not to be opened until Christmas Day. When opened at Christmas the rose would be as fresh as the day it was picked.
This rose would be fastened to the front of the bosom and worn out and about. Whatever young man ran up and snatched the rose from its resting place would be the future husband.
Midsummer Men
A group of girls would take slips of orpines arranged in pairs, one for a certain girl and one for a certain boy, and place them in the joists of their house eaves.
If the slips leaned into each other then the match was assured. Should they lean away from each other then there was no match and possibly even enmity would sprout between the two. Finally, if the flowers should whither… death was in the air…
These divinations, and the celebrations described above, are all of British tradition. Britain is, however, not the only place you would find Midsummer.
Midsummer Elsewhere
Midsummer observations have been found across time and the globe…
Mesopotamia
Ancient Mesopotamians saw the Midsummer period as a time of mourning rather than celebration. It brought with it intense heat, famine, and disease.
As we saw with British tradition, the Mesopotamians considered Midsummer as a multi-day period. A six-day funeral was held for their god of food and vegetation, Tammuz, because they considered that he must have died at this time each year.
This funeral involved its own procession (although not up-beat as with the British type). This procession was filled with mourners, wailing women, and lamentation hymns.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptians considered the Summer Soltice as the start of their New Year.
The star Sirius was seen as the marker of the Solstice and when it appeared the flooding of the Nile would occur soon thereafter. This heralded the renewal of the land.
There would be a festival for the birth of the Sun God – Ra. Offerings would also be made to various other Gods to ensure a good flood of the Nile.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Romans held a festival to honour the Goddess Vesta (among others) who was considered the Goddess of the hearth and protector of virginity.
During this festival a cake would be made by maidens chosen to be the Vestales, or Vestal Virgins. The cake included salt as a critical ingredient, was hard-baked, and cut into slices to be offered to Vesta. Does this sound familiar? Consider the dumb cake created by maidens in Britain… Is this an example of traditions being passed down through generations, but with slight alterations with each passing?
Vesta’s festival would last for eight days (providing support for my thinking we should utilise an eight-day celebration period now) and offerings of various types would be made throughout.
There are many other places that celebrate Midsummer, both ancient and more modern.
The Sun, its cycle, and how it impacts nature has always been important. It is just as important for us to remember.
By continuing to acknowledge, and celebrate, Midsummer we can keep this important connection alive. Ensuring the spiritual relevance of this time of year is not forgotten.
Let us know in the comments how Midsummer is celebrated where you are from and/or how you celebrate personally. Lets promote learning through communication!
Merry Midsummer to all and blessings for a prosperous Summer season!
Sources
Books
The English Year: A month-by-month guide to the nation’s customs and festivals, from May Day to Mischief Night, Steve Roud, (2008), Penguin Books: London, England
Websites
General Information
https://www.almanac.com/content/midsummer-day
Salisbury Information
https://salisburymuseum.org.uk/collections/giant-and-hob-nob/
Appleton Information
https://appletonthorn.org.uk/bawming-day/
Shetland Information
https://www.shetlandreel.com/blogs/news/simmer-dim?_pos=2&_sid=c84caa251&_ss=r
https://www.shetland.org/visit/events/simmer-dim-rally
Sheriff Information
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us/law-historic-governance/the-sheriffs
Ancient Midsummer Information
https://allmesopotamia.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/mesopotamians-and-summertime/
https://www.crystalinks.com/floodingnile.html
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/ideology/festivaldates.html
https://www.learnreligions.com/the-roman-vestalia-festival-2562247
