{"id":5817,"date":"2024-06-19T03:20:42","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T11:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/?p=5817"},"modified":"2024-06-20T09:04:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T17:04:02","slug":"christian-pagan-holidays-a-midsummer-nights-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/2024\/06\/christian-pagan-holidays-a-midsummer-nights-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian & Pagan Holidays: A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/a><\/span>\u201d is a magical romp through an ancient fairyland. How can it help you celebrate the summer solstice?<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/a>
\u201cSir Edwin Landseer \u2013 \u2018A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream'\u201d by sofi01 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n**
**
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
**
It\u2019s halfway to Christmas. And time for a little magic.<\/strong> Shakespeare depicts midsummer as a mystical time when fairies play tricks on people and love is in the air. The holiday has a long tradition in northern Europe. Neopagans call the summer solstice Litha, while Christians observe it as the Nativity of John the Baptist.<\/p>\n
**
**\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why is It Called \u201cMidsummer\u201d?<\/h2>\n****
**
****To those unfamiliar with the Wheel of the Year, the terms can seem a bit awkward<\/strong>. On our calendar, summer begins on or around June 21, and winter begins on or around December 21. So, Midsummer isn\u2019t the middle of astronomical summer, and Midwinter isn\u2019t the middle of astronomical winter. The middle of summer is near August 1, and the middle of winter is Groundhog Day.<\/span> So, why the confusion?<\/p>\n
Remember that our calendar isn\u2019t the only one used around the world and hasn\u2019t been the only one used throughout history.<\/strong> In ancient northern European reckoning, summer begins on May 1 and ends on August 1. Thus, Midsummer is the middle of summer, and Midwinter is the middle of winter. Hence, the Christmas song, \u201cIn the Bleak Midwinter<\/a><\/span>\u201d is about Yule, not Groundhog Day.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Wheel of the Year<\/h2>\n
In my article on Groundhogs, Candlemas, and Imbolc<\/a> <\/span>I discuss the Wheel of the Year:<\/strong><\/p>\n
"
Pre-Christian Celts divided the year into eight equal portions, called \u201c<\/em><\/strong>The Wheel of the Year<\/strong><\/a><\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The quarters fall at the summer solstice (Litha, on or around June 21), the winter solstice (Yule, on or around December 21), spring equinox (Ostara, on or around March 21), and fall equinox (Mabon, on or around September 21). The cross-quarters lie at the midpoints in each season. The midpoint of spring is Beltane, on or around May 1. The middle of summer is Lughnasadh, on or around August 1. Halfway through fall is Samhain, on or around November 1. The midpoint of winter is Imbolc, on or around February 1. (<\/em>These dates are inverted for those who celebrate in the southern hemisphere<\/strong><\/a><\/em>.) Each of these quarters and cross-quarters represents a different phase in the agricultural year and carries with it a spiritual significance.<\/em><\/p>\n**
When Roman Catholicism entered the unchurched lands of Western Europe, it Christianized the indigenous festivals to facilitate the conversion of Pagans.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Ostara was renamed Easter. Beltane was transformed into May Day with its fertility pole. Litha corresponds to the Roman Catholic Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist. Lughnasadh, the festival of first harvest, became Lammas, or the Loaf Mass. Mabon, the feast of the second harvest, became the Feast of Matthew the Apostle. The Church turned Samhain into All Saints\u2019 Day. We are more familiar with the day before\u2014All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. Christmas eclipsed Yule to such an extent that many think they are synonymous. And finally, Candlemas replaced Imbolc.<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/a>
Image by Charlee Brown on Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/blockquote>\n*******
**
*******\u00a0<\/p>\n
Midsummer Traditions<\/h2>\n
In Western and Northern Europe, Midsummer\u2019s Day (Old English, Midsumor<\/em><\/a><\/span>) is traditionally celebrated, not on the solstice itself, but on June 24. <\/strong>So, Shakespeare\u2019s magical rom-com \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u201d would have been set on the night of June 23.<\/p>\n
Europeans have been observing Midsummer since Neolithic times.<\/strong> Stonehenge<\/a><\/span> is one example of many standing stones, dolmens<\/a><\/span>, and other markers to observe astronomical solstices. Historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists debate what actually went on at these locations. However, nobody debates their connection to some kind of Midsummer and Midwinter observances.<\/p>\n
Across Pre-Christian Europe, Midsummer festivals involved singing, dancing, playing games, and indulging in sumptuous foods.<\/strong> Celebrants lit bonfires on Midsummer Night, dancing around them or leaping over them. In the Middle Ages, these bonfires were made of bones and other waste. So, the word \u201cbonfire\u201d actually means \u201cbone fire.<\/span>\u201d<\/a> Ancient celebrants also lit large wheels on fire and rolled them downhill into lakes. This represented the decline of the light from the summer solstice to Yule.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\nChristianization of the Holiday<\/h2>\n*********
**
Pre-Christian Europeans celebrated the long days of summer with bonfires in honor of the sun that provided light and life to the people.<\/strong> As Christianity moved into the reaches of Europe, it sought to evangelize its inhabitants. Rather than contest their Pagan practices and holidays, the church \u201cbaptized\u201d many of the festivals. Church leaders knew the people would continue observing them anyway. So, the Church simply gave the holidays new meaning. Thus, Midsumor<\/em> became the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.<\/p>\n
**
*********\u00a0<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s Day<\/h2>\n
The Gospel of Luke<\/span><\/a> says that Jesus\u2019s cousin John the Baptist was six months older than Christ.<\/strong> So, St. John\u2019s Day is roughly six months from Christmas. Colonizing Christians equated Christmas with Yule\u2014the shortest and darkest day of the year when the light starts returning day by day. Mirroring this holiday, the Church celebrated the summer solstice as the longest and brightest day of the year when the light begins to fade. As Jesus was the \u201ctrue light coming into the world<\/a><\/span>,\u201d John\u2019s light needed to fade to make room for Jesus. For context, let\u2019s look at some scriptures about John the Baptist.<\/p>\n
John: A Witness to the Light<\/h2>\n
The Church placed St. John\u2019s Day where it did because it was six months from Christmas, and because of the baptist\u2019s association with decreasing light.<\/strong> In the Gospel of John<\/a> <\/span>(the Beloved, not the Baptist), the evangelist writes:<\/p>\n
"
John 1:6 \u2013 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe Must Increase, But I Must Decrease\u201d<\/h2>\n
Later, when Jesus\u2019s ministry increased along with his following, the baptist\u2019s disciples took issue with their teacher\u2019s decreasing popularity. The evangelist writes<\/a><\/span>:<\/p>\n
"
John 3:27 \u2013 John answered, \u201cNo one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, \u2018I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.\u2019 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom\u2019s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Because John\u2019s popularity began to decrease as Jesus began his messianic ministry, John is associated with the decrease of light.<\/strong> For this reason, Midsummer is the perfect time to celebrate his birth.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s Day Celebrations<\/h2>\n
John is best represented with the dual elements of fire and water<\/strong>. Fire, because Jesus is called the Light of the World, about whom John was called to testify. <\/strong>\u00a0On the website, \u201cCatholic Culture,\u201d Jennifer Gregory Miller\u00a0writes<\/span>:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
"
Light (as in sun and fire) and water are the two imageries that keep repeating for this feast (and saint). All over Europe bonfires were traditional for St. John\u2019s Eve. \u201cThe Church blesses such fires, praying God that the faithful may overcome the darkness of the world and reach the \u201cindefectible light\u201d of God.\u201d (Dir. Pop. Piety, #225) Here we can see the merging of popular piety with the liturgy with the official blessing from the Roman Ritual for the bonfire.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Miller says that the Church celebrates John\u2019s birthday through the element of water, as well. <\/strong><\/p>\n
"
And as St. John THE BAPTIST baptized with water, including Our Lord, water plays a significant role. In reading about different customs throughout the world my favorite has to be Mexico, where they bathe and swim and throw water \u201cbaptizing\u201d each other.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Catholic All Year<\/span>,<\/a> by Kendra Tierney, is a great resource for those who want to bring Midsummer traditions out of the Middle Ages. <\/strong>The author suggests the typical bonfires and barbecues. She also shares a video<\/a> by Elissa Mirzaei, in which children inquisitively eat locusts<\/a><\/span> and wild honey, just like John. A priest stops by to bless the gathering. At the bonfire, he encourages them to use this time to focus on emulating and imitating John\u2019s humility. Check out her website for more traditions and ideas.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Litha<\/h2>\n
Neopagans, who trace their spiritual lineage not through the Church but to their pre-Christian ancestors, celebrate Midsummer as Litha. <\/strong>According to Mabon House<\/a><\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n
"
The name \u201cLitha\u201d is derived from Old English and has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon calendar. The term \u201cLitha\u201d is believed to be related to the word \u201cli\u00fea,\u201d which translates to \u201cgentle\u201d or \u201ccalm\u201d in Old English.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Shakespeare wasn\u2019t making things up when he depicted a thin veil between the fairy world and this one. <\/strong>The ancients believed this to be a time when the Fae mingled with humanity. Sometimes they brought blessings, and sometimes they played tricks. Modern practitioners of the Old Ways celebrate the longest day of the year by remembering these otherworldly beings. Dhruti Bhagat<\/a><\/span> writes:<\/p>\n
"
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, and in some traditions, Litha is when a battle between light and dark takes place. In this battle, the Oak King and the Holly King battle for control. During each solstice, they battle for power, and the balance shifts. The Oak King, who represents daylight, rules from the winter solstice (Yule) to Litha. During this time, the days steadily get longer. However, during Litha, the Holly King wins this battle, and the days get steadily darker until Yule.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
For Neopagans, Midsummer Night isn\u2019t just a dream about fairies\u2014it\u2019s an otherworld reality lived out in an annual cycle. Litha traditions bring spiritual significance to seasonal activities.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Litha Traditions<\/h2>\n
Wiccans, Neopagans, and others who celebrate Litha often recreate the old traditions of northern and Western Europe. <\/strong>For this reason, fire plays a big role in celebrating the lightest and longest day. As with most human festivals around the world, seasonal foods, music, and dancing play prominently. Celebrants go to the countryside, gather herbs, construct sun wheels<\/a><\/span>, and enjoy bonfires. This is a good time for herbal magic, as freshly harvested herbs fill the house with aromatic potency. Modern witches adorn altars, wreaths, and other sacred spaces with flowers. Today\u2019s Druids celebrate Litha at Stonehenge annually, welcoming the solstice light. Sophie Swan\u2019s website<\/a><\/span> gives many suggestions for Neopagans looking for Litha traditions.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/h2>\n
The juncture of Litha and St. John\u2019s Day isn\u2019t as famous as the intersection of Yule and Christmas, or the connection between Ostara and Easter<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong> Perhaps this is because of the Reformation and its shift away from saints\u2019 days. Most Protestants haven\u2019t even heard of the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Or maybe it\u2019s just because people are busier at the beach, lake, and golf course this time of year. But here\u2019s a suggestion for people of any faith, to celebrate the summer solstice:<\/p>\n
Regardless of religion, summer is a perfect time for barbecues and bonfires. Celebrate<\/strong> the longer days cooking outdoors. Take the chill off the nights with a bonfire and some good friends. Build bridges across religions. If you\u2019re a Christian, make friends with a Neopagan. If you\u2019re a Wiccan, invite a Christian to your Midsummer festival. Sit in the shade of another tree<\/a><\/span> for a while and see if you can find some common ground. My Midsummer night\u2019s dream is that we could use the holiday to put differences aside and seek peace together.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Practicing Humility<\/h2>\n
In Matthew 11:11<\/a>,<\/span> Jesus has something amazing to say about his cousin John:<\/strong><\/p>\n
"
\u201cTruly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
John was not great just because of his ministry. He was great because of his humility.<\/strong> He was willing to step back so Jesus could step forward. Perhaps this is a lesson everyone can learn from. To practice the humility of John, we\u2019ve got to put others first. We\u2019ve got to become quiet, and let the other person speak.<\/p>\n
In Shakespeare\u2019s A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream, humans and fairies interact, with comedic results.<\/strong> The impish Puck turns Nick Bottom\u2019s head into a donkey\u2019s head. This reminds us of what asses we all can be\u2014especially when it comes to religion. Thankfully, summer is a time when you don\u2019t hear a lot of people arguing about religion. There\u2019s no \u201cJesus is the reason for the season,\u201d or \u201cThey took my Samhain and made it All Saints\u2019 Day.\u201d Instead, there\u2019s only summer\u2014and a celebration of light. This solstice let\u2019s put our asinine religious differences behind us and enjoy a Midsummer night\u2019s dream of peace together.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
For related reading, check out my other articles in this series:<\/h3>\n\nChristians & Pagan Holidays: Groundhogs, Candlemas & Imbolc<\/a><\/span><\/li>\nChristian & Pagan Holidays: Easter Bunnies Come From Ostara<\/a><\/span><\/li>\nChristian & Pagan Holidays: Beltane & May Day<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"***************************
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***************************Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u201d is a magical romp through an ancient fairyland. How can it help you celebrate the summer solstice? \u00a0 It\u2019s halfway to Christmas. And time for a little magic. Shakespeare depicts midsummer as a mystical time when fairies play tricks on people and love is in the air. The holiday has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4628,"featured_media":5820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3809,1302],"tags":[4011,4038,4008,4002,4014,4041],"class_list":["post-5817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heathen-christianity","category-holidays-and-special-days","tag-christian-and-pagan-holidays","tag-john-the-baptist","tag-litha","tag-midsummer-nights-dream","tag-shakespeare","tag-summer-solstice"],"yoast_head":"\nChristian & Pagan Holidays: A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u201d is a magical romp through an ancient fairyland. 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Greg holds a degree in Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and pursued additional theological studies at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He is married to Christina, and together they have seven children and a growing number of grandchildren. His book, \"Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Way of Love\" is scheduled for publication this fall.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/revgregsmith\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gregsmithbreathingspace\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ca\/revgregsmith\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/revgregsmith1"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/author\/gsmith\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4628"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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