Summer Solstice      Ways to Spend the Day The Summer Solstice brings forth wonderful food, fresh mead and games of strength and endurance. We see the coming of full bloom and we can take note of the earth as she bursts forth with her bounty for us.   © Photo by: Celesté   If we have been wise and taken care to plant what we will need and if we have tended over young plants by weeding them, watering them, (and keeping pesticides off of them), there is the proof of this work upon our feasting table.   Different cultures celebrate this time with things that are particular to them. Each of these celebrations is characterized by an outpouring of things from the earth. Some covens will meet with others in order to expand the possibilities. They will exchange knowledge, goods and make good on previous trades.   Does this sound like an old time country fair? Exactly! Sabbats were the reason for many a fair or what was known long ago as a gather.     If you have an opportunity to share this day with someone you should do so. Make it a day of happiness and of giving. Share knowledge with someone. Show a young person how to weave, knit, cook or paint. Plan a great get-together to exchange recipes for the produce that will be forthcoming from your gardens or the market in the next couple of months.   Make a basket of goodies and give it to someone who can't get out or do for themselves.   If you have enough people clean a part of a road easement. Do things to better yourselves and others. At the end of the day set an Altar that reflects celebration and thankfulness. Adorn it with flowers of the season, new mead, and some poppy cake or little poppy seed foldovers. Plan to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection about all you have been given. Bless your loved ones. Bless the day, and close your circle.   Know that you are loved.     Feasting    With the growth of the fields in bursting forth the people would gather to worship together  and give thanks to the Gods for the bounty to come.  But they also gathered to achieve other things as well.  This is the time of barn raising, and of other collective efforts by the local  communities. It was also a time of fun and feasting.  You would find people coming from long distances to meet, share their goods and learn news of each other   These great gatherings needed huge amounts of food to sustain the workers physical efforts.    The young people would be sent to gather berries, snare rabbits and gather any other fresh food items that could be used in the feasting.  Soon the air would be filled with the smell of cooking.  Large amounts of "teas" would also be served, many based on old recipes for tonics.  In modern times we have come to associate this holiday with hand churned ice cream, fat sausages and steaks grilled to perfection on an open fire along with lots of fresh fruit.     Books to help you on your quest   Please Sign My Guest book View My Guest book