How to Observe Midsummer

Midsummer is the centuries old celebration of the height of summer. Celebrated mostly in northern European countries, where the summer is short and precious, Midsummer is connected to pre-Christian and Christian rituals of harvest and rebirth. With feasts, large gatherings, bonfires and dancing, Midsummer celebrations are not to be missed. Follow these steps to observe the Midsummer festival.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find out about different national customs. Different nationalities observe Midsummer in very different ways. Find out about the observances of various countries that celebrate Midsummer such as Sweden, Finland, Poland and Ireland. Then, pick one of the countries' ceremonies and rituals or borrow customs from different places to make your own form of Midsummer observance.
2. Find the correct date. In the past, Midsummer was observed on June 23 and, sometimes, June 24. Today, however, as knowledge about the longest day of the year is more precise, some people observe Midsummer on different days. Refer to your local culture or simply pick a date that seems intuitively correct to observe Midsummer.
3. Light a bonfire. No matter where you go to observe Midsummer, chances are that you will see a bonfire as part of the ceremonies. A bonfire signifies the light, warmth and harvest of the summer. It is also a good way to get lots of people to gather to a particular place. So, either start a bonfire or join one to properly observe Midsummer.
4. Make a large wreath, or maypole, to gather and dance around. Another one of the ceremonies that almost all Midsummer celebration observe is the creation of large wreaths of grasses and flowers. In some parts of the world, such as Sweden, a large flower-decorated pole called a maypole is erected so the people can dance around it. Create a wreath or maypole of your own to observe Midsummer.
5. Understand that Midsummer is a religious observance for many pagan and neo-pagan communities. The summer solstice is observed by Wiccans as the festival of Litha, and by those in Britain's Druid tradition as Alban Hefin. These traditions celebrate rituals incorporating the traditional bonfire and other customs saluting the light of the sun. Stonehenge, the monolithic stone ring in southwest England, may have been used in Midsummer rituals in ancient times, and is a gathering place for modern Druids (and tourists) today. Most Midsummer ritual observances are closed to those who are not initiates of the particular religious traditions.