![]() ![]() Some scholars believe that Wyoming’s Bighorn Medicine Wheel, an arrangement of stones built several hundred years ago by Plains Indians that aligns with the summer solstice sunrise and sunset, was the site of that culture’s annual sun dance. The Sioux, for instance, performed a ceremonial sun dance around a tree while wearing symbolic colors. Many Native American tribes took part in solstice rituals, some of which are still practiced today. Midsummer was a crucial time of year for the Vikings, who would meet to discuss legal matters and resolve disputes around the summer solstice. Magic was thought to be strongest during the summer solstice. It was believed that bonfires could help banish demons and evil spirits and lead maidens to their future husbands. It was thought that bonfires would boost the sun’s energy for the rest of the growing season and guarantee a good harvest for the fall.īonfires also were associated with magic. Festivities celebrated Earth, femininity, and the “yin” force.īefore Christianity, ancient Northern and Central European pagans (including Germanic, Celtic and Slavic groups) welcomed Midsummer with bonfires. In ancient China, the summer solstice was associated with “yin,” the feminine force. During Vestalia, married women could enter the temple of Vesta and leave offerings to the goddess in exchange for blessings for their families. In the days leading up to the summer solstice, the ancient Romans celebrated Vestalia, a religious festival in honor of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. The Greeks’ strict social code was temporarily turned on its head during Kronia, with slaves participating in the merriment as equals or even being served by their masters. Kronia, a festival celebrating Cronus, the god of agriculture, was also held around this time. The summer solstice also marked the one-month countdown to the opening of the Olympic games. Solstice in Ancient CulturesĪccording to some ancient Greek calendars, the summer solstice marked the start of the New Year. John’s Day to commemorate the birth of John the Baptist. Wiccans and other Neopagan groups call it Litha, while some Christian churches recognize the summer solstice as St. In Northern Europe, it’s often referred to as Midsummer. Its observance may have helped to predict annual flooding.ĭifferent cultures and religious traditions have different names for the summer solstice. In Ancient Egypt, the summer solstice corresponded with the rise of the Nile River. Neolithic humans may initially have started to observe the summer solstice as a marker to figure out when to plant and harvest crops. ![]() (During the winter solstice, the sun does the opposite, and begins moving northward as winter slowly turns to spring.) The ancients noticed that as summer progressed, the sun stopped moving northward in the sky, then begin tracking southward again as summer turned to autumn. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin words “sol” (sun) and “stitium” (still or stopped). This day marks the start of astronomical summer and the tipping point at which days start to become shorter and nights longer. The Northern Hemisphere receives more daylight than any other day of the year on the summer solstice.
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