LITHA - the magic of the summer solstice, a time of abundance and gratitude

LITHA – the summer solstice holiday, a celebration of sunlight. Traditionally celebrated from June 20 to 23, usually June 21, when the longest day and shortest night of the year are.
It is the fourth holiday of the Wheel of the Year, a cycle that represents the natural transition of the seasons. Associated with these are eight significant holidays through which we celebrate various aspects of life, growth, abundance, death, and rebirth.

Litha symbolizes the peak of solar energy and light, abundance and joy of life, the balance between light and dark, and nature at its fullest. Litha is a time when light peaks and darkness begins to slowly return.

Colors characterizing the Litha period: yellow, green, gold, red

Yellow is a symbol of optimism, enlightenment, warmth and understanding. Yellow is the color of the incoming and strengthening rays of the sun and the warmth it brings with it. It is the color of the bright days of the coming summer and as the Sun shines from the sky onto the landscape, its yellow rays bring the power of enlightenment and support the search for knowledge. It is the color of the summer solstice at a time of bright long days, the color of warmth.
Yellow is the color of mid-year, the successful beginning of a new journey, promises and fulfilled promises, and "sunny" optimism.
How does yellow affect our psyche, how do we perceive it, and how is it perceived in the world? You can find out in our article Yellow: the color of light, joy, optimism, and vitality.

Green is the color of growth, new life, vital energy and fertility. It represents nature, abundance and the renewal of the energy of the earth. It is associated with harmony, stability and natural cycles. On the altar it is represented by leaves, grass and plants as decorations, or green candles to promote abundance and balance.

Gold is a symbol of enthusiasm, happiness and power. Gold is the traditional colour of kings, wealth and the Sun and seems to touch the deepest part of our minds, evoking images of mystical places, treasures and adventure. Gold helps to alleviate fears and worries, strengthening our enthusiasm and ambition. 

Red symbolizes passion, life and strength. It is the flame of life, as it represents fire, which has a purifying and protective function. It embodies passion and love, combines male and female energy and represents passion, desire and romance. Red ribbons decorate wreaths and maypoles.

Traditional gemstones for Litha celebrations

These stones and crystals can be worn as talismans , used to decorate an altar for Litha, or used for meditation. Add lavender, St. John's wort, or rosemary to your altar.

How best to spend this holiday?

Create a Litha Altar

Whether you create a simple or elaborate altar, it is important that it reflects your intentions. It should be a place of joy, light, and above all, full of positive energy.

Here are a few types of what should be on the altar:

• Flowers – sunflowers, St. John's wort, chamomile, roses.

• Pentagram as a protective amulet.

• Stones for grounding, optimism, vitality, joy, happiness, positive energy: e.g. garnet, carnelian, citrine, sunstone, ruby, tiger's eye, etc.

• Candles in yellow, green or red. 

Talisman for Litha: "Sun amulet" symbolizing the sun, strength, growth and protection

What you will need:

• a piece of yellow or gold fabric (or yellow ribbon),

• small stone (preferably universal crystal, sunstone, citrine, carnelian, or any stone you find),

• dried herb (such as St. John's wort, lavender or rosemary),

• string or thread if you have a piece of fabric.

Procedure

• Place a stone and some dried herbs in a cloth or bag.

• Pull the fabric tight, close the bag.

• Hold the talisman in your hands and focus on your wishes: protection, joy, the power of the sun.

• You can say a simple sentence like:

  "May the sun in my heart, the light in my soul, the power of nature and joy protect me."

• Carry the talisman with you or hang it in a sunny place at home.

For our altar we used candles, a pentagram, lavender, our unique incense burner and Litha bundles, the "Sun Amulet" talisman symbolizing the sun, strength, growth and protection, sunflowers as a symbol of love...

The crystal grid contains sunstone as a symbol of joy, optimism and connection with life's solar energy, carnelian as a symbol of energy, creativity, vitality and sexuality, tiger's eye for stability, strengthening courage in decision-making and planning, and citrine for optimism, vitality, abundance and positive energy.

Prepare festive food and drinks
Fresh fruit – strawberries, cherries, apricots, honey, cakes and other baked goods. Herbal drinks – homemade lemonades and lavender or St. John's wort teas or mead.

Take a walk in nature
Gather herbs, dance, rejoice, and don't forget to greet the sun as it rises. Have a picnic, hang out with friends, and promote shared joy and togetherness.

Meditate
Find a quiet place where you will be alone and nothing and no one will disturb you. Light a candle and meditate. 

Ritual tip for Litha from Nefertiti

Ritual to honor the sun

What you will need:

• Stones – e.g. sunstone, carnelian or citrine.

• Yellow candle.

• A bowl of water, as a symbol of balance.

• Herbs – lavender, St. John's wort or rosemary, fresh or dried.

• Paper and pen.

Procedure:

• Find a quiet place, it can even be outside.

• Create a mini altar: place a candle, place stones, herbs, and a bowl of water around it.

• Light a candle and meditate for a while – thank the sun and its energy.

• Write on paper what you want to ignite in your life – courage, creativity, abundance, love, success…

• Hold the paper over the candle flame so that it does not burn and say out loud or in your mind: "Light of the sun, light of the soul, may what I desire come to me in love."

• Conclude the ritual by thanking nature, blow out the candle, and carry the paper with you or place it on an altar or other visible place.

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There are similar holidays around the world that, like Litha, celebrate the summer solstice.

Summer Solstice – Europe, paganism, Celtic and Germanic traditions: June. Celebrated by lighting bonfires, gathering herbs: Litha, Midsummer, Alban Hefin (Druidism, June 21), singing and dancing. In Nordic countries, Midsommar is celebrated (usually June 14) – people weave flower wreaths, cook traditional food and dance around a maypole.

Midsummer Night – Europe: June 23. It is a mix of Christian and pagan traditions, with bonfires, searching for ferns and magical herbs. The celebrations are similar to Litha. The holiday is celebrated on the eve of the feast of the Christian saint John the Baptist, which falls on June 24. The flower of St. John is St. John's wort.

Kupala Night/Ivan Kupala – Slavic countries, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland: June 23rd to 24th. The symbols of the celebration are fire and water: people jump over fire, wreaths are released on water, and rituals of love, purification, and fertility are performed.

Inti Raymi – Peru, Incas: June 24. Sun festival, worship of the god Inti. In Inca mythology, the god was depicted as the Sun with a human face. The holiday includes festivities, sacrifices, traditional clothing and dancing. It is still celebrated in the city of Cuzco, Peru.

Geshi – Japan: around June 21. The holiday marks the day with the longest sunshine of the year. Although it is not a major holiday in modern Japan, in the traditional calendar ( 24 sekki ) it is one of the 24 seasons of the year and is associated with changes in nature, the beginning of the rainy season, and agricultural rhythms.

Whatever the holidays are called, they are united by the celebration of the summer solstice and sunlight.

We wrote the article for you on May 31, 2025.

Articles about other holidays in the Wheels of the Year series can be found here.

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