Saturday is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and what is usually noted on our calendars as the first day of summer. Most people won't celebrate it, though, or even notice.
I am of two minds about that. We certainly don't need another "holiday" taken over by advertising and guilt (Oh, honey, did you buy the solstice gifts yet?), but I think it's a shame that more people don't recognize this natural milestone in the year ... or the Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox or Autumnal Equinox.
In a way, many of us do note Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox, as the Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter have been superimposed on them. I suppose the early church fathers figured that since people were going to celebrate at those times of year, they might as well be given a "good" reason to celebrate. That's why those holidays contain so many pagan elements and symbols like Christmas trees and eggs, and why the hyperreligious want to erase those elements.
I don't know how the Summer Solstice managed to escape religious layering, but I think that makes it an even more charming day to celebrate. We can make up our own activities and traditions: going on a picnic, pausing at noon to think about the sun at its highest point, having a glass of wine while watching the sunset ... anything to remind us of the gifts and natural miracles of the earth and heavens.
Would that be considered pagan? Well, yes, but there's nothing wrong with paganism, which is simply an appreciation of and respect for nature. And perhaps a reminder of all that is pagan, or outside of religion, is a good way to get back to basics. From there, you can move on to the next layer, if you choose, and become a good Christian, or Buddhist, or Jew, or Muslim. But it starts with this wonderful orb we live on, which has its own cycles and rhythms that we must remember to follow and respect.
So, happy solstice, everyone. Long, warm thoughts go out to you on a long, warm day.
I am of two minds about that. We certainly don't need another "holiday" taken over by advertising and guilt (Oh, honey, did you buy the solstice gifts yet?), but I think it's a shame that more people don't recognize this natural milestone in the year ... or the Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox or Autumnal Equinox.
In a way, many of us do note Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox, as the Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter have been superimposed on them. I suppose the early church fathers figured that since people were going to celebrate at those times of year, they might as well be given a "good" reason to celebrate. That's why those holidays contain so many pagan elements and symbols like Christmas trees and eggs, and why the hyperreligious want to erase those elements.
I don't know how the Summer Solstice managed to escape religious layering, but I think that makes it an even more charming day to celebrate. We can make up our own activities and traditions: going on a picnic, pausing at noon to think about the sun at its highest point, having a glass of wine while watching the sunset ... anything to remind us of the gifts and natural miracles of the earth and heavens.
Would that be considered pagan? Well, yes, but there's nothing wrong with paganism, which is simply an appreciation of and respect for nature. And perhaps a reminder of all that is pagan, or outside of religion, is a good way to get back to basics. From there, you can move on to the next layer, if you choose, and become a good Christian, or Buddhist, or Jew, or Muslim. But it starts with this wonderful orb we live on, which has its own cycles and rhythms that we must remember to follow and respect.
So, happy solstice, everyone. Long, warm thoughts go out to you on a long, warm day.
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