Midsummer
Lore
Midsummer Recipes
Midsummer Activities
Ravenna's Midsummer Log
Midsummer is a classic time for magic of all kinds. Shakespeare's wonderful play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" brought much attention to this time of year. Although not traditionally celebrated as one of the Greater Sabbats, it's still a great time to feast and celebrate the power of the sun at His peak.
In pre-historic times, summer was a joyous time of the year for Aboriginal people in the northern latitudes. The snow had disappeared; the ground had thawed out; warm temperatures had returned; flowers were blooming; leaves had returned to the deciduous trees. Some herbs could be harvested, for medicinal and other uses. Food was easier to find. The crops had already been planted and would be harvested in the months to come. Although many months of warm/hot weather remained before the fall, they noticed that the days were beginning to shorten, so that the return of the cold season was inevitable.
This time of year, between the planting and harvesting of the crops, was the traditional month for weddings. This is because many ancient peoples believed that the "Great Rite" of the Goddess and God occurred in early May at Beltain. Since it was unlucky to compete with the deities, many couples delayed their weddings until June. June remains a favorite month for marriage today. In some traditions, "newly wed couples were fed dishes and beverages that featured honey for the first month of their married life to encourage love and fertility. The surviving vestige of this tradition lives on in the name given to the holiday immediately after the ceremony: "The Honeymoon."
