A Midsummer Night's Eve

Summer Sun in Africa

Midsummer Eve, also known as the Midsummer Sabbat (Summer Solstice), is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. At this point in the solar cycle, the Sun is considered to be at its highest and brightest. In ancient Egypt, the solar deity and hero, Har/Horus/Heru, defeated his Uncle, the Egyptian Lord of darkness and evil at this time of the year. With this victory, divine order and fertility were restored in Egypt and it was thought that this event allowed the Nile floods to come, bringing life back to the Nile valley.

In the Celtic countries of Northern Europe the Solar Lord fulfilled the same function and in modern times, witches and pagans still honor the Lord of Light, invoking him to "put to flight the powers of darkness" and bring fertility and abundance back to the land and the people. This celebration is a joyous celebration, but at the very height of the Sun's power we also encounter the truth that whatsoever rises must also fall and so from this high point in the solar cycle, the days will begin to grow shorter and the nights longer.

In Britain this theme of transformation from one thing to another was reflected in the story of the Oak King, god of the waxing year and the Holly King, his twin, god of the waning year. It was at this time that the Oak King fell and the Holly King began his reign which would lead inevitably to the darkness of winter and the longest night of the year at the Winter Solstice at which point the Oak King would return. It was said that at the Summer Solstice the Oak King withdrew to the realm of the circumpolar stars, known to the Greeks as the Corona Borealis, to the Egyptians as ik-hem-sek, 'not-knowing-destruction,' and to the Celts as Caer Arianrhod. This region of the stars never disappears below the horizon, not even at the time of Midwinter.

It was the hope of every Pharaoh of Egypt that upon his death he would travel safely through the Duat, the Egyptian afterworld, and "come into the light of day" in the kingdom of Ra, the Sun god, and join with that great god in his solar boat to become one of the imperishable stars. Ra is one of the gods honored at the time of the Summer Solstice along with Har/Horus/Heru.

The word solstice comes from the latin sol stetit, which means "sun stands still." In June and December, for approximately 6 days, the Sun gives the appearance of rising and setting at the same point. It is the movement of the Earth around the Sun that creates our solstices, winter and summer. In the Northern Hemisphere we experience a period of darkness that runs roughly from the start of October and goes until the end of March. The low point in that cycle is the Winter Solstice, which falls approximately around December 21/22. In the southern hemisphere that time of year is their summer season and in the month of June they are experiencing their winter.

These turning points in the year were thought to be shadowy, mysterious, uncertain times where the veil between the worlds was thin. It was at these points in the cycle of the year that the portal, the gate of the afterlife stood ajar. For our ancestors, both festivals involved issues of life and death, fertility, abundance, lack, and scarcity. The crops were vital to the continuation of life and if they failed this would mean many would perish. There was also fear that the Sun would not return so these are some of the factors that are the basis of the rites, ceremonies, practices and celebrations that took place at the solstices.

Summer Solstice Sun Rising over the Khafre Pyramid

All these rites and practices revolved around the need to ensure the Sun's return, to preserve the light, and bring about a victory over the forces of darkness that would allow the crops to come again, ensuring the continuity of life.