Midsummer Mayhem!

The Summer Solstice is upon us, marking the longest day of the summer. Depending on the calendar year, it can fall between June 20th and 24th. This year, that day falls on June 20.

Originally a Roman Neolithic holiday, it honored Lady Luck, also known as Fas Fortuna. Romans would travel down the River Tiber to one of her many temples adorned with flowers and celebrate exuberantly. The reason for this worship was that Fas Fortuna was not only the Goddess of Fortune—both good and bad—but also had strong ties to virtus, or strengths of character. This meant that those in positions of power, or those who did not exhibit good virtues, were setting themselves up to be on the wrong end of the fortune received. No one wanted this, so everyone equally worshipped Fas Fortuna. Fortuna has taken on many other personas or causes for respect throughout Rome, Egypt, and other ancient cultures. This includes, but is not limited to, luck in marriage, the favorable future of the firstborn child, personal prosperity, parental well-being, adolescence, harvest, and more.

The tradition of the Solstice continued even after the introduction of Christianity in Europe. However, the honor would now be bestowed on Saint John and his birth. This was an uncommon practice, even in medieval Christianity, as most saint-honoring times were given to their death, not their birth.

St. John is said to be one of the oldest saints, and the reason for this particular celebration was because his birth coincided six months before the birth of Christ on December 25. The date for St. John’s celebration would then be June 24.

St. John’s Eve and St. John’s Day marked the beginning of a new tradition: the bonfire. Initially, a monk in England wrote that several fires should be burned—one made with bones and no wood, one with wood and no bones, and finally one with bones and wood. This was intended to frighten away dragons, witches, and evil spirits.

Another reason for John’s celebration was to signify that after the Solstice, the length of daylight would diminish until the Winter Solstice, which coincides with the birth of Christ, occurring on the longest night.

Lastly, Neo-Pagan society debatably used Stonehenge as a means of tracking the movement of the sun. This long day of sunlight fell into their belief system known as ‘The Wheel of the Year,’ a calendar of sorts.

Nowadays, the Solstice is recognized worldwide, and celebrations of the long day include bonfires, maypole dances, boat rides, fireworks displays, and feasts.

Did you know that Lindsborg, Kansas, also known as Little Sweden, hosts its own annual Midsummer Festival?

If you are looking for more ways to celebrate the Solstice, perhaps you would like to honor Midsummer or Midsommar by watching Shakespeare’s beloved fantasy classic on Medici.tv or by checking out a copy from our collection.

Party up at the Library and enjoy your own Summer Solstice of fun!