A History: Midsummer Day (24th June)

Midsummer Day (June 24th) is a celebration of summer, enjoyed throughout Europe. It is close to the Summer Solstice and has pre-Christian, Pagan roots. It celebrates the midpoint of the growing season; it is half-way between planting and harvesting.

It is also the feast of St. John the Baptist within the Christian Church, and celebrations begin the night before on the 23rd June, which is known as St. John’s Eve (and Midsummer Eve). Saint John was born six months before Jesus in the calendar year, and predicted the birth of Christ, later baptising him in the Jordan River. Saint John is seen by many Christians as someone who prepared the way for Jesus.

It is believed that the custom of lighting of fires in honour of St. John first happened in England in the 13th Century. One particular monk in Gloucestershire details how the bonfires drove away dragons. The bonfires did more than this - they united communities; bringing people together in celebration to eat, drink and be merry.

Alongside the bonfire celebrations doors were decorated with greenery and flower garlands, interspersed with pretty glass lamps. Bathing in water (to represent Jesus’ baptism) and watching the sunrise were all traditional activities.

Midsummer and St. John’s Day celebrations happen all around the world and are particularly important in Scandinavia and some parts of the U.K. although the date has been changed in some countries, and falls somewhere between the 19th and 26th of June.

Sending love and blessings to you,

Wren. X 

NEXT - Lughnasadh Blessings: Welcoming the Harvest
NEXT - Summer Solstice Blessings
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Fairy Rings
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Nine Ladies Stone Circle

Happy Summer Solstice!

Happy Summer Solstice for yesterday, everyone! Wishing you the most beautiful week ahead!

Also, Winter Solstice blessings to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. Sending all my love and blessings, Wren. X

NEXT - Summer Solstice Blessings
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Fairy Rings
NEXT - Poppy Magick: Correspondences

Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Winter Solstice everyone! I’m wishing you a warm, cheery and abundant Yuletide and a blessed Summer Solstice if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Astrological Winter solstice occurs at 21:48hrs tonight, UK time. Tomorrow, at dawn, we celebrate the return of the Sun after the longest night of the year. On the 23rd December the day will get longer by 7 seconds, until we have a full hour of extra daylight on the 18th January 2023.

This is always such a joyful time for me. Whilst peak celebrations of the Sun happen at Summer Solstice, there is always that tinge of sadness as the light diminishes. At Winter Solstice things are on the up!

Yes, there is still the coldest part of the winter to endure, but it feels like we have broken the back of the journey towards the lighter part of the year; to be confirmed at Imbolc, of course!

Whenever I think of the Winter Solstice Sun I think of my dear friend Terry, officiating at the Avebury Free & Open Gorsedd. He’d talk about our ancestors’ experience of welcoming the Sun and always say “and if the Sun doesn’t come up, it’s all over!” with a chuckle. It still makes me smile.

What are your plans for today and tomorrow? Are you going to observe sunrise tomorrow?

If you ever need local sunrise and sunset times most weather apps include them for each day.

Wishing you all a very beautiful Solstice. Be well. 

NEXT - Greeting the Sun After the Longest Night 
NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Mince Pies
NEXT - Lupercalia: A Look at Valentine's Day

Recipe: Apple Cake

A blessed July everyone!

This is a post from the Solstice which I am only sharing on the website today:

“Today marks the longest day of the year. We celebrate the peak energy available at this time, but it is a bittersweet moment. Despite the joy and abundance of this time, the energetic scales are tipped; and once again we will begin the descent into darkness."

Whilst there is a definite sense of making merry at this time ~ celebrating the abundance of summer and enjoying time outside with friends and family ~ it can be a time tinged with sadness for many, including myself. For those of us with chronic illness who are solar powered, and are only really just starting to feel healthy, well and energised, it’s frustrating to know that the days will start to draw in, in a few days’ time.

But let us put those thoughts aside for now, and revel in this peak moment of light and warmth!

Rather than a traditional Honey Cake, I made an Apple Cake this year. This will grace our table many times between now and Samhain. In many ways it’s more like a pudding than a cake. It is delicious served warm with custard. I have tried this recipe successfully with Gluten-free flour, but not vegan substitutes. I’m sure it would work well.

APPLE CAKE

Ingredients:

225g Self Raising Flour

110g Caster Sugar 

170g Bramley Apples, chopped 

85g Butter, melted 

150ml Milk

1 egg 

1 tsp Cinnamon

Method:

Line an 8 inch tin, preheat the oven to 200c 

Sift the flour into a bowl with the spice and sugar 

Beat the egg and add to the milk and melted butter 

Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture, mix well 

Add the apple, mix well 

Spoon into the tin, sprinkle some sugar on top 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean 

NEXT - Recipe: Stinging Nettle Crisps
NEXT - Natural Remedies: Stinging Nettle & Rosemary Hair Rinse
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Bird's Foot Trefoil

NEXT - Simple Magick: The Shadow