Summer Sun (all day long!)
Happy Summer Solstice!
Today is the longest day of the year, with the sun shining for over 16 hours in the Twin Cities! Yahoo!
I am a Christian, but there are still some pagan things that have incredible appeal. The solstice is one of them. I like the winter solstice, because it means that the days can't get any shorter than they already are. I also like lounging in the late summer sun on these long summer days.
I understand that many Christian holy days were taken from significant pagan festivals. Christmas is very close to the winter solstice. Easter comes very quickly after spring (with fertility themes). But we don't really have a Christian festival that corresponds to the summer solstice. Pentecost? Maybe...that's the closest high holy day.
We need a day when we thank God for filling our days with light. We emphasize light during Epiphany, when we don't have any. We need a day to be thankful for the light. Who's with me? Anyone want a Christian festival of Summer Solstice? Anyone? Ok - maybe not.
As for me, I'm going to walk my dog at 10:00 tonight (at dusk!)
posted by Ross @ 9:42 AM
3 Comments:
I guess in the Roman church, the solemn feast of the birth of John the Baptist on June 24 is close to a summer solstice festival. After all, following the chronology in Luke, the date was selected to be six months before the celebration of Christmas, which has winter solstice connections.
True... not just the Catholics; it is also observed by the Lutherans...
The great thing about summer evenings is that you don't need a jacket. Except if there are bugs.
But I can appreciate the idea of being out and able to see when one usually can't. I remember driving back from Colorado this time of year, very late into the evening. Lovely.
But winter nights...A friend of mine planned an adult sleepover with skiing at midnight. She planned it for the full moon. We could see just fine. Another lovely memory. The silence was stunning.
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