Call it midsummer, the first day of summer or summer solstice; it all means essentially the same thing. It’s the day with the longest amount of daylight and the shortest night of the year. In 2023, the summer solstice will occur on Wednesday, June 21. In some countries, the summer solstice is a public holiday. In others, it’s recognized as a traditional festival day. Start making plans now for your Summer Solstice Celebration.
Ancient Traditions of a Summer Solstice Celebration
The summer solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years. In Europe, people would light bonfires and dance all night during midsummer. Bonfire jumping was a popular event, with the highest jump said to predict the height of the summer’s crops. In Rome, midsummer festivals focused on Vesta, the goddess of the family and home. Summer festivals around midsummer often celebrated fertility and the sun, both feminine qualities.
Shakespeare used the summer solstice as a basis for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” At midsummer, it’s believed that mysticism is heightened, bringing the mythical world closer to mere mortals. Ghosts, fairies and other mythical beings are able to bring mischief and chaos to humans. One tradition is to wear flower wreaths to ward off bad spirits.
Celebrating Midsummer With Trees
Midsummer isn’t just a celebration of the longest day of the year. It’s also a celebration of life and nature. Many festivals focus on trees. The oak tree is highly prized during midsummer. It’s considered to be a doorway to the mystical world. If the oak tree has mistletoe, all the better. Mistletoe is said to have healing and fertility powers and can harness the power of the oak tree.
Beech trees symbolize wisdom. If the oak tree is the king of the forest, the beech tree is its consort queen. In ancient times, people would write their wish on a beech twig and bury it so the wish would come true as the twig decayed. Hazel trees are thought to protect against malevolent mythical beings. In medieval times, people would stir their jam with a hazel branch to keep fairies from stealing it.
Midsummer Celebrations in the United States
Bonfires are the traditional celebration of midsummer, but many places in the US celebrate midsummer in unique ways. In Fairbanks, Alaska, the annual tradition is the Midnight Sun Game. The baseball game starts at 10 pm and is played without artificial lighting. Because Alaska is so close to the Arctic Circle, daylight hours are even longer. At midsummer, there is almost no nighttime.
The festival at Crimson Dawn Park in Wyoming is almost 100 years old. Enjoy a storytelling festival while walking through the trails and shrines in the community. The walk ends with a huge bonfire and potluck, with hot chocolate and cookies following the event. It’s an enchanted evening.
Fremont, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, hosts an interesting summer solstice festival. The parade has strict rules for its floats and other entries. Live animals, advertisements and even words and logos are prohibited, making for some creative entries. The Solstice Cyclists, aka naked bike riders, are also a mainstay of the parade. They ride wearing only body paint. Even though there has been controversy, they’re considered a tradition of the Summer Solstice Celebration.
Lindsborg, KS, a community north of Wichita, holds an annual festival celebrating its Swedish heritage. It’s a one-day event that kicks off with a 5K run. You can experience the Kubb Tournament, a traditional Nordic game, or visit the Viking re-enactment village. Swedish dancers dance around the Midsummer Pole. A local church holds a Swedish hymn service. Entertainers and food vendors are plentiful to round out the day.
Look for other events in your community, or make your own Summer Solstice Celebration.