Summer Solstice Traditions

Midsummer’s Day brings with it a host of traditions. A lot of stone circles (famously Stonehenge) are aligned on the sunrise of the summer or winter solstice, probably so that the sun’s return to the north can be marked and celebrated.

As Christianity developed inevitably this affected the traditions and dancing and the devil are often involved. In West Sussex skeletons are reputed to appear and dance around an oak tree and many places have the legend that dancing round standing stones will raise the devil.

Bonfires are still lit for summer celebrations and in some parts, not long ago, wheels would be set on fire on hill tops to roll down to a lake or stream as a charm against summer drought.

One story survives of a tradition of fasting at Midsummer to find who would die in the next 12 months. The spirits of the doomed villagers would raise the knocker on the church door (apparently).

John Clare, the poet, mentions Midsummer Cushions in his writing. Now every year children of his home village make the cushions - usually an ice cream tub packed with moss into which flowers are pressed.

There is something special and poignant about the longest day. Although the turning of the wheel of year barely touches some of us the Midsummer Solstice retains its importance.