Midsummer Madness - Celebrating the summer solstice Whether you are dancing around a fire with a drum or loitering around a barbecue with a paper plate, the longest day of good news. Hopefully the weather will realize it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend.
The summer solstice occurs on 20 or June 21 each year and is also known as Midsummer, Litha or the day of St. John's. This year, in England, the sun rises at about 4:45 ET set at 9:20 p.m. Saturday, June 21 A lot of time to honor Mother Earth and the Sun King, or perhaps the grilled burger and the King of Beers.
This event has been celebrated since time immemorial by the pagans and believers. These days, parties and festivals are held throughout Northern Europe, Ireland, Great Britain, Canada, the United States and parts of southern Europe. If it is good, millions more will enjoy the weather in their gardens or rear deck all summer long for the day.
pagan activities typical St. John include maintaining a sacred fire, stay up all night to greet the rising sun at dawn, ecstatic dance around a fire, is burning a Yule wreath; make a promise of the Earth Mother and exchanging gifts with friends magic.
Some non-Pagans may find similar things after a cheap beer too many. Although friends can not find magic where you are around the barbecue like a madman and hurling condiments on the grill.
Each year pagan revelers flock to Stonehenge in Wiltshire, where English heritage provides a "management free access to the stones for the summer solstice. Visitors may be among the stones dedicated this year from 20.30 Friday, June 20 at 08:00 Saturday, June 21
No camping, campfires or amplified music is permitted at Stonehenge, but there are samba bands and drummers provide atmospheric background sounds.
The 3 Wishes Faery Fest is a family festival running from 20-22 June at Lake Park Colliford Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Highlights include masquerade A Midsummer Night's Dream Fairy, a fantastic tale fashion show and a lesson in the school of fairies, goblins and inspired music.
The Cork Midsummer Festival of the Senses is on June 15 to July 5 with a mixture of comedy, music, circus, dance, theater and visual arts.
For girls and guys beach, Goldcoast Oceanfest is a surf and music festival based in Croyde, North Devon, running 20-22 June There will be concerts and events sponsored sports such as beach volleyball, mountain biking and surfing.
The Herstmonceux Castle Estate in East Sussex is the place of Global Fusion, an annual celebration of world music with family entertainment including storytelling, drumming and circus skills. This summer, the festival takes place between Friday 20 and Sunday, June 22
A week later, one of the summer festivals of Britain's most famous kick. Glastonbury takes place in Somerset, between 27 and 29 June, this year billed as a "Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts. music stars are Kings of Leon, The Verve and Jay-Z.
A little later, the Summer Solstice Festival in the city of Yellowknife, Canada bring different cultures together in a free music and dance evening through the weekend. The workshops of the family characteristics of the festival, interactive educational activities and entertainment to promote cultural awareness and raise funds for nonprofit groups in the region.
A novel concept is the Midsummer Sailstice been a global event where sailing fans around the world subscribe to sail in their region during the summer solstice. The sailors, racers and recreational boaters all over the world are united in spirit on the longest day of the sailing year.
Whatever your style, the longest day is a sign that the.
Posted on May 15, 2010.
