With all of it's kings and castles, princes and princesses, & magic and honor,
Guild Wars reminds me of many other ancient customs and traditions.
One of my favorites, besides Yuletide of course, is Midsummer's Eve!
Summer Solstice falls on June 21st , and is always in line with the Midsummer Celebrations.
Midsummer’s Eve, falls on June 23rd with Midsummer’s Day falling on June 24th!
Summer Solstice is well known as the longest day of the year, and is followed by the shortest night.
It is the direct polar opposite of the Winter Solstice and the Yuletide Celebrations,
which observe the shortest day of the year followed by the longest night.
The significance of the solstices are in the extremes, marking the beginning of a return to balance.
While the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the return of the light and warmth as the days grow longer,
so the Summer Solstice marks the beginning of the return to dark and cold, as the days begin to grow shorter.
Midsummer’s Eve, two days after the solstice, is celebrated as a magical time of year.
It is one of the Ancient Spirit Nights, when the misty veil between the worlds is thinnest,
and therefore most easily crossed by spirits and demons alike.
This is a rare and wonderful time to commune with fairies and elves, but beware their tricks.
William Shakespeare celebrated this event with his play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
It is also known as Herb Evening, since it was also believed to be the most potent night of the year
for the gathering of fresh magical herbs as well as all medicinal herbs.
The Midsummer Festival celebrates the peak of the life giving power of the sun.
Everything is in full bloom with the promise of coming abundance. Even Mother Nature celebrates with carefree abandon.
Her breath of air is warm and alive, filled with the fragrance of fields and flowers.
The sounds of the music of nature, the humming of bees and singing of birds, are joyful tunes
to accompany the leaves dancing on the breeze in the treetops.
Many of the ancients celebrated the element of fire on the Summer Solstice, representing the Sun.
Fire also represented purification and the power of the element to drive away the dark,
and any evil spirits that lingered therein. Leaping over fires was considered to bring good luck.
This was a likely inspiration for the “Jack Be Nimble” poem from olden days .
The element of water was also celebrated as the natural and welcome counterpart to the fire of sun.
Rain was necessary for the continuing growth of the crops that were nurtured by the sun.
Because of its magical timing, divining rods were usually cut on Midsummers Day as well.
In fact, all divining was thought to be at a magical peak during this festive time of year.
A flaming wheel was rolled downhill into a river or lake, representing the union of fire and water,
and signifying the power and magnificence of the circle of life.
The Mid Summer celebrations consisted of many traditions still known to us today.
Before the festivities, homes were thoroughly cleaned and decorated with fresh flowers
and other greenery, much like the "spring cleaning” rites still practiced today.
Giant bonfires were lit with many of the gatherers feeding it and celebrating until first light of dawn.
This tradition is still practiced by graduating classes at many educational institutions around the globe.
Entire communities gathered to celebrate the light and warmth and beauty that surrounds us.
Sweet breads, ale and preserved meats were set out on tables for those that gathered to feast on.
Much of this is still incorporated into community block parties and giant extended community & corporate picnics.
Not so common but still practiced today among smaller factions is the tradition of both singing and dancing
around The Summer Birch, which was adorned with long colorful ribbons intertwined in the dance.
There are several festival dances involving the Birch, but the most well known is “The Grand Chain”.
Pairs of males and females would gather around the pole side by side, alternating M/F , M/F…
Each would then take the end of a ribbon, dancing around the pole while weaving the ribbons.
The men would move in one direction while the women moved in the opposite direction,
both ducking under then lifting over each approaching ribbon, repeating this over and under pattern,
until the pole was covered in a delightful rainbow weave.
This practice is also conducted on May Day, when the Summer Birch is referred to as a May Pole.
Birch is representative of fertility in the old northern cultures, and therefore of the coming abundance,
while the dancers and ribbons signified the intertwining of the opposites to effect creation.
For those that celebrate still, and for those with a strong nostalgia for days gone by,
This is a time to be grateful for life and for all of the abundance surrounding us.
I hope that your Midsummer is both magical and full of joy! :heart:
