The Midsummer Eve or Midsummer is a Christian holiday of pagan origin (Litha), which are usually light fires or fires, linked with celebrations in which the arrival of the summer solstice was celebrated on 21 June in the northern hemisphere, whose principal rite is a fire. The purpose of this rite was giving more power to the sun, which from that time was becoming more weak -the days are getting shorter until the winter solstice. Symbolically fire also has a purifying function in people watching him. It is celebrated in many parts of Europe, but is particularly strong in Spain, Portugal (Fogueiras de São João), Norway (Jonsok), Denmark (Sankthans), Sweden (Midsummer), Finland (Juhannus), Estonia (Jaanipäev) and the UK (Midsummer). In Latin America, northeast of Argentina, Brazil (has Festas Juninas), Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, the night of San Juan. The night of San Juan is likewise related to ancient traditions and Spanish legends like the Legend of the Enchanted. In many places there is no doubt that the current celebrations have a direct connection with the celebrations of antiquity linked to the summer solstice, influenced by pre-Christian or simply linked to the cycles of nature rites. However, elsewhere (eg Spain and Portugal) the existence of a link between the celebration of the summer solstice (northern hemisphere) taking place on 20-21 June and the celebrations of San Juan (June 24) vary according to the dates, the discontinuity in the celebration, traditions and customs, etc. Nevertheless, common elements are noted, as is the realization of bonfires in the streets and squares of the towns where family and friends gather. Linking the rites connected with the summer solstice celebration with another popular and quite widespread in June, the festivals of San Pedro (June 29), is even less clear. Relationship with Christianity The traditions and celebrations that coincide with these dates are originally pre-Christian and have claimed to be Christianized, as the celebration of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist or Sanjuanada. Are very important in Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Estonia, but also can be found broad influences of this celebration in Ireland, parts of Britain (Cornwall especially), France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and in some areas outside Europe, such as Canada, United States and even in the southern hemisphere (Argentina, Brazil), where this imported European celebration has been more appropriately named winter Solstice. Within the pagan community we find the name Litha coming from the texts of the monk Bede entitled De temporum ratione in which he coined the Anglo-Saxon names for the months that roughly correspond to June and July as is Ærra Litha and is Æfterra Litha (previous month Litha and subsequent month Litha) with an after is Æfterra Litha intercalated in leap years month. history The celebration of the summer solstice comes from earlier times to Christianity. In those days people believed that plants bloomed or germinated in that solstice had curative and healing powers more than usual, which is why they used to collect them in that night. Bonfires to ward off evil spirits were lit, which supposedly roamed freely when the sun was setting on the south. In later years, witches used that day to mark a date that supposedly had a magical charge. In Sweden, the celebration was done with ritual sacrifices in honor of fertility. According to several anthropologists, the solstice has been retained as a special moment in the annual cycle from the Neolithic. In Sweden, Finland and Estonia, the summer solstice is considered one of the biggest celebrations of the year, comparable only with Walpurgis Night, Christmas Eve or New Year. Celebration in the neopaganism Among the different forms of Neopaganism can be quite different and have different origins, despite sharing the same definition. Some traditions celebrate Neopagan approaching the manner in which they believe the ancient Germanic pagans celebrated, while others prefer to celebrate this solstice traditions with selected rituals of different sources, the Germanic culture one of many used. In the Neo-Druidism, the term ALBAN Heruin is used synonymously with the summer solstice. This name was invented in the late eighteenth century by the romantic author of Welsh origin called Iolo Morganwg. Germanic neopaganism The soslticio summer or Litha contained in the reconstructed Germanic calendar, used by some Germanic neopagan groups or certain pagan groups who emphasize the reconstruction of the German-Saxon paganism. Wicca Litha is one of 8 or Sabbat festivals celebrated by Wiccans, since traditions from New Forest (which refer to the British Traditional Wicca) began using the traditional name. The festival is considered the crucial point where the summer reaches its peak and the sun shines more brightly and with a long duration compared to other days. Litha is preceded by the Sabbath known as Beltane, and then followed by Lughnasadh or Lammas.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:59:56 +0000
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