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Midsummer rites, known as Litha, celebrate the God of Pagans and Witches as He makes Himself a willling sacrifice at the very height of His strength and power. Some legends tell that the God dies on Midsummer Eve, and some say it is His last night with the Goddess as Her Husband, before His strength begins to wane and He is ritually killed. In ancient times the King of the Land was identified as the mortal husband of the Goddess, and he was expected to willingly give up position and life before his strength and prowess as a warrior and leader failed. His ritual execution was carried out by the next to-be King of the land. Thus the mystical storyline of the God cut down in His prime by His own Son, or Brother, is fullfilled. It is important to remember that this ritual was not intended as a sacrifice to the Goddess, but as a self-sacrifice by the God Himself. God is identified with both the Hunter and the wild beasts that are Hunted. The Hunter brings about the death of Himself, in the form of the stag, so that the people might eat and live. Also, He dies to lead the way for us mortals into the underworld, only to be reborn again in the Spring. His lesson to us then is that death is not something to be feared, but merely a transition. He also teaches us about the cycle of life and death that is replayed around us in all elements of nature.
Sacred plants associated with this rite include rowan and rue, said to dispell harm from animals and houses. It is traditional to make charms and blessings over the animals associated with the household. In older days we might have blessed our livestock, while today it is the household cat or dog that benefits. Rituals include the building of a bonfire, and making of wreaths out of flowers to crown our children with, remembering that they are the progeny that will shape the world after us. Games like bobbing for apples and pinning the tail on the donkey are played. Altars are covered with citrus fruit, flowers, and images of the sun, as this is very much a solar rite. Traditional feasts include many citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, and spicy grilled meats. It is at this time that we remember to invoke the power of fire into our midst, with its power to burn away what is no longer needed by us, and its gift of being able to recycle what was old. Many modern Pagans chose to begin new recycling projects at this time of the year, in honor of what the Mother gives us, and our commitment to care for Her. Celebrate, Make Merry, and Blessed Be!
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