What is Litha?

TL;DR

Litha, also called Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, is celebrated around June 20–22 and marks the longest day of the year. It’s a time to honor the sun, celebrate growth, and enjoy the abundance of nature. Traditionally, people lit bonfires, gathered herbs, and honored solar deities. Today, you can celebrate by watching the sunrise, making sun tea, decorating with flowers, lighting a candle, or simply spending time in nature. Litha reminds us to pause, appreciate what’s blooming in our lives, and carry that energy into the second half of the year.

Celebrating the Summer Solstice

Litha, also called Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, is the point in the year when daylight lasts the longest. Celebrated around June 20 to 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the peak of the sun’s power and a shift in the seasonal cycle.

This is a solar holiday that honors the sun’s strength, energy, and life-giving force. Nature is at its most active and abundant. Gardens are full, bees are buzzing, and wildflowers are blooming everywhere. It’s a time when the Earth feels alive and thriving.

Litha is also a chance to look inward. Just as the Earth is producing fruit, we can reflect on what we’ve grown in our own lives. This might be personal progress, creative work, new relationships, or simply healing and growth. It’s a moment to pause and appreciate how far we’ve come.

Many people celebrate Litha with fire, food, and connection to the land. Bonfires are often lit to represent the sun, and simple rituals are done to express gratitude or ask for continued growth. It’s also a good time for reflection, rest, and enjoying the beauty around us.

Although this is the brightest time of year, it’s also the turning point when days slowly begin to shorten. This balance of light and shadow reminds us that change is always happening. We are invited to enjoy what we have now, knowing it will shift again with the seasons.

Origins and Traditions

Long ago, people around the world noticed the sun’s changing patterns. The Summer Solstice was an important time to many ancient cultures. It was not only an astronomical event but also a time of celebration and spiritual meaning.

In pre-Christian Europe, communities would light fires on hills to honor the sun, bring protection to the land, and bless the harvest. These gatherings included music, dancing, and rituals for health, luck, and fertility. Some couples even jumped through the fire for good fortune. Cattle were also passed between fires to keep them healthy.

In Norse and Germanic traditions, Midsummer was thought to be a magical time when the veil between worlds was thin. Spirits and fairies were believed to be more active, and people gathered herbs that were said to be most powerful on this day. One of the best-known herbs, St. John’s Wort, was traditionally picked around this time and used for protection.

Places like Stonehenge and Newgrange were built to line up with the sun during solstices. These ancient sites show just how important the sun was to early people. Even today, people gather there to watch the sunrise and connect with the old traditions.

Modern pagans, witches, and spiritual seekers still celebrate Litha with rituals, nature walks, herb harvesting, and gatherings. The focus is often on abundance, gratitude, protection, and personal reflection. Some create spells or charms, while others simply enjoy being in nature.

While the ways we celebrate may have changed, the heart of Litha stays the same. It’s a time to feel connected to the Earth, the sun, and the cycles of life.

Themes and Symbolism

Litha is full of strong and simple themes that reflect the season.
 • The Sun represents life, power, and clarity.
 • Fire is used for protection, transformation, and strength.
 • Light symbolizes truth, insight, and personal awakening.
 • Fertility and growth remind us of creativity, abundance, and new beginnings.
 • Balance is a key theme, as the days will now slowly shorten after this point.

Many cultures honor sun gods and goddesses at this time, including Helios, Ra, Amaterasu, Lugh, and Sol. These deities represent warmth, guidance, and the power to help life grow and flourish.

Litha is also a time when nature spirits and the fae are believed to be most active. In some folk traditions, small offerings of food or flowers are left out in gardens or woods to honor these unseen forces. Whether taken literally or as symbols of the natural world, they remind us to respect and protect the land.

The meaning of Litha is simple: to celebrate what is alive and thriving, and to be present with the energy of the season. It is about recognizing that we are part of the Earth’s cycles and honoring both our outer lives and inner journeys.

Ways to Celebrate

You don’t need a bonfire or a group to celebrate Litha. Here are some simple and meaningful ways to mark the day:

Watch the sunrise and set intentions
Start your day by watching the sun rise. As the light fills the sky, think about what you want to focus on this summer. Say your intentions out loud or write them in a journal.

Make a flower crown or decorate your altar
Use flowers, herbs, and natural items to create a crown or decorate a sacred space in your home. Choose colors that remind you of the sun, like yellow, gold, orange, and green.

Make sun tea and enjoy seasonal foodsPlace fresh herbs and water in a jar and let it steep in the sunlight. Enjoy the tea with fresh fruits, berries, vegetables, and herbs. Eating seasonal, sun-ripened food helps you connect to the energy of this time.

Light a candle or small fire
If you can’t have a bonfire, a simple candle works. Light it in honor of the sun. Think about what you want to let go of and what you want to bring more of into your life.

Harvest herbs
Many herbs are believed to be most potent on this day. You can harvest them respectfully and thank the plant for its gifts. Dry them for later use in tea, cooking, or rituals.

Give thanks for your growth
Take time to reflect on your personal growth. You might write in a journal, meditate, or simply sit outside and think about what you’ve learned or created since winter. Gratitude rituals are especially powerful at this time.

No matter how you celebrate, the goal is the same: to connect with nature, honor the sun, and take a moment to recognize the beauty in your life.

Correspondences

Colors: Gold, yellow, orange, red, green
Elements: Fire, with a connection to Earth
Herbs & Plants: St. John’s Wort, chamomile, lavender, mugwort, mint, rose, oak, sunflower
Crystals & Stones: Citrine, carnelian, amber, tiger’s eye, sunstone
Flowers: Sunflower, rose, daisy
Symbols: Sun wheels, spirals, fire, solar disks, honeybees
Deities: Helios, Ra, Amaterasu, Lugh, Apollo, Sol
Animals: Bees, butterflies, eagles, stags, horses
Foods: Honey, berries, fresh herbs, summer fruits, bread, sun tea
Themes: Abundance, vitality, protection, purification, balance, gratitude, celebration of life

Embracing the Light

Litha is a time to enjoy the light while it lasts. It encourages us to slow down, appreciate what is blooming, and feel connected to the natural world.

Whether you celebrate with a fire, a walk in the woods, a quiet morning in the garden, or a cup of sun tea, this season invites you to live fully. Let the brightness of the sun inspire you to shine in your own way, and carry that energy forward into the rest of the year.