Known as the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice is celebrated around the world for it’s abundance, warmth, and promise. It is the beginning of shorter days and longer nights, reminding us to grab life and love hard with each passing sundown. The Summer Solstice is a fire festival often celebrated by the burning of a Wicker Man which represents the Sun God, Lugh. Lugh is believed to be the messenger to the Otherworld. By messages, wishes, and blessings on his “body” before placing him into the bonfire, it’s believed he will carry your wishes and blessings away with the smoke.

This year, Summer Solstice lands on Tuesday, June 21st at 4:13am (in the Northern Hemisphere). As a Licensed Midwife, I do tend to attend most of my clients’ births at night. In fact, after some research, I realized that I have attended many births on the Winter Solstice but fewer on the Summer Solstice. Is this because babies left to arrive on their own timing almost always come at night? I don’t have an answer for that. What is DO know is these Summer Solstice humans are born on the Gemini/Cancer cusp and often hold qualities from both signs. With the moon in Aires, these tiny beings will be a force to be reckoned with.

Celebrating the Summer Solstice with your family can be very simple or very elaborate as entire festivals are held yearly to celebrate this occasion. Sun-rise gatherings, spending time in nature, gathering flowers for the family table, building a summer alter, song and dance circles (especially around a bonfire) are all wonderful ways to celebrate. I started my celebration plans earlier this month when my elder trees were bursting with blooms. I gathered the elderflowers and fermented them just long enough to bottle them and create Elderflower “champagne”which will be ready to enjoy on the Solstice with friends and family as we did last year.

I combined a recipe from Rosemary Fairy with one from the wonderful forager Pascal Baudar, author of “The Wildcrafting Brewer: Creating Unique Drinks and Boozy Concoctions from Nature's Ingredients”. I chose to combine these two recipes after trying them each separately last year. I liked aspects of both and thought combining them would make the perfect Solstice drink. We shall see!

Bottles of Elderflower “champagne” made June 2022.

Because my “Champagne” has a small amount of alcohol once fermenting is completed, much like kombucha, it isn’t a recipe I feel comfortable sharing here. I will, however, leave you with this deliciously refreshing herbal infusion to create for your Solstice celebrations this year. I hope you enjoy it! It is a favorite of mine.

A Sunny Little Tea by Deanna Norris, CPM, LM

8-10 leave fresh Peppermint

8-10 leaves fresh Lemon Balm

8-10 leaves fresh Holy Basil (Tulsi)

1- gallon glass jar

To make, wash and combine herbs in glass jar. Cover with water to the top of the jar and place outside in a sunny spot for 6-12 hours, or whatever feels good to your soul. Remove herbs (or not) and place in the refrigerator to chill. Serve over ice with sliced frozen strawberries if you so wish. You can also infuse these herbs inside, or even in the refrigerator if you don’t have a space to sun them outside. This tea is practically foolproof.

Alternatives- Chamomile, Catmint, Spearmint, Thyme, Elderflowers, Lavender, or Hibiscus (if not pregnant). You can also add fresh ginger for a zing.

For more information about the history of the Summer Solstice, or for additional activities you might enjoy, check out the following:

“Circle Round: Raising Children in the Goddess Tradition”, Starhawk, Diane Baker, Anne Hill

“The Women’s Wheel of Life”, Elizabeth Davis and Carol Leonard

“The Wheel of the Year, Living a Magical Life”, Pauline Campanelli

National Geographic

The Almanac

Summer Solstice Worksheets for Kids

Share your Summer Solstice celebratory activities in the comments below!