What is Litha?

Litha, also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, is a sacred celebration of light, life, and the full bloom of nature. It falls around June 20th–21st in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This is the sun at its peak: radiant, unwavering, and alive with possibility.

For witches, pagans, and earth lovers alike, Litha is a time to honor abundance, passion, and the delicate turning point when light begins to wane again. It’s a day of balance and celebration, a reminder that the wheel of the year keeps spinning, and that everything, even the longest day, eventually yields to the dark.

The Origins of Litha

The name “Litha” is rooted in old Anglo-Saxon lore. It was mentioned by the Venerable Bede, an 8th-century English monk, who used the term to describe the months of June and July. The modern association of “Litha” with the Summer Solstice comes from Wiccan and neopagan traditions that breathe life back into ancient seasonal celebrations.

Though the term is modern, the reverence for this turning point in the solar year spans many cultures and centuries.

The Magick of Litha: Colors, Crystals, Scents, and Symbols

Colors
Gold – solar energy, abundance, and strength
Blue – clarity, truth, and the long sky of summer
White – purity, balance, and radiant energy

Crystals
Sunstone – joy, empowerment, solar connection
Tiger’s Eye – strength, grounding, confidence
Citrine – abundance, optimism, vibrant energy

Scents & Herbs
Lavender – peace, clarity, protection
Chamomile – healing, gentleness, solar magick
Mint – vitality, freshness, mental sharpness

Symbols
Sun Wheel – the full cycle of the year, turning once more
Bonfire – transformation, purification, passion
Oak Tree – strength, wisdom, and the height of nature’s bounty

Plants & Sacred Herbs of Litha

The herbs of Litha carry both healing and protective power. You can burn them in ritual, hang them above your door, brew them in teas, or simply place them on your altar.

• St. John’s Wort – solar protection, courage, warding
• Lavender – soothing the heat of summer, psychic protection
• Mugwort – dreamwork, intuition, crossing between realms
• Rosemary, Thyme, Sage – purifying, energizing, protective allies

Many of these herbs can also be gathered, dried, or turned into oils for use throughout the darker half of the year.

Litha Lore & Ritual Traditions

Midsummer has long been a time of fire festivals, fertility rites, and reverence for the land. Bonfires are lit in honor of the sun’s power, and it’s said that leaping through the flames brings blessings, purification, and renewed strength.

Some witches mark this day with handfastings, love magick, or solar blessings for health and abundance.

Others simply rise to greet the sun, walk barefoot in the grass, or make wildflower wreaths as an offering to the land.

Faerie Magick & the Veil of Litha

Litha is a peak time for faerie activity. The veil between worlds is thin, and nature spirits are said to dance freely in meadows and groves. Faerie rings (mushroom or grass circles) may appear in fields; honor them, but tread lightly.

To connect with faerie energy:

• Leave offerings like honey, milk, or wild berries in a quiet natural spot
• Craft a small faerie altar using stones, petals, and moss
• Meditate at dusk and listen closely for signs or whispers

Faerie Protection Tips:
While many fae are benevolent, some can be mischievous. Carry protective herbs like St. John’s Wort or salt. Wearing your clothing inside out or carrying a piece of iron has long been thought to keep trouble away.

Litha Deities

Litha invites us to celebrate solar deities and divine archetypes tied to growth, fertility, and radiant power:

• Ra (Egyptian) – solar creator and guardian of cosmic order
• Apollo (Greek) – god of light, music, prophecy, and health
• Baldur (Norse) – god of joy, innocence, light, and resurrection
• Brigid (Celtic) – goddess of fire, creativity, and renewal
• Freya (Norse) – goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and strength
• The Oak King – ruler of the waxing year, now facing his seasonal handover to the Holly King as darkness begins to return

Honoring these deities may involve candle rituals, poetry, singing, nature offerings, or sun meditations.

Traditional Foods of Litha

Celebrate Litha with vibrant, sun-kissed foods from the earth. Prepare a feast that honors the land and its fullness:

• Berries – strawberries, raspberries, blueberries: fresh, wild, or baked
• Honey – sacred to the sun, bees, and fertility
• Mead – fermented honey drink, known as the nectar of the gods
• Fresh Herbs & Veggies – straight from the garden or farmer’s market
• Fire-roasted foods – corn, bread, grilled vegetables, marshmallows
• Sun-shaped treats – round loaves, citrus fruits, tarts, cookies
• Herbal teas & fruit punches – iced or sun-steeped

Offer a plate or a sip to the land, the spirits, or your ancestors.

Is Litha Still Celebrated Today?

Yes, deeply. Modern witches, pagans, druids, and spiritual seekers around the world gather on this day to honor the solstice with feasting, fire, gratitude, and ritual. Some attend Stonehenge or sacred sites, others walk into their gardens with bare feet and lit candles. It doesn’t have to be grand; it has to be real.

Litha is about connection: to the sun, to yourself, to the Earth, and to the unseen forces that move through all things.

10 Simple Ways to Celebrate Litha

Greet the sunrise – Set your alarm, make a warm drink, and watch the longest day begin.

Light a bonfire – Even a candle on your altar will do. Fire is central to Litha’s spirit.

Swim in natural water – Rivers, lakes, seas, or even a foot bath under the sun.

Share a picnic – Eat outside, feel the warmth, and bless your food with gratitude.

Craft a sun wheel – Use straw, vines, or herbs to symbolize the turning of the year.

Host a barbecue – Gather with friends or family and feast in celebration of the light.

Visit a sunflower field – Or fill your home with golden blooms and solar energy.

Make sun tea – Let herbs infuse slowly under the sun’s gaze.

Meditate in sunlight – Close your eyes. Let the rays recharge your soul.

Plant sunflowers – They follow the sun, just like you.

Final Thoughts

Litha reminds us that we are part of a great rhythm, a pulse of light and shadow, growth and rest, fire and stillness. We celebrate now, in the height of life, knowing that the wheel will turn again.

Let this day be a celebration of joy, of warmth, of everything in bloom.
Let it be a moment to pause, soak in the light, and remember: the sun lives in you too.

Happy Litha, and may your season be radiant ♥