The festival of the Summer Solstice and Midsummer, Alban Hefin, strength, light and the height of the sun
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Rituals
Alban Hefin Rite : Llyn Hydd Grove
As with the festival that marks the mid point of winter, so the festival of midsummer is also divided into two. We begin with the celebrations of the summer solstice, which is at some specific point between 20 – 23 June. It takes three days here, too, before we can be certain simply by watching the horizon that the year has turned on its axis and the sun is rising further towards the east once more. This brings us to what is known as Midsummer’s Day, between 23 – 26 June (usually thought of as 24 June). In Welsh/Brythonic, it is called Alban Hefin, meaning ‘the light of summer’. In the Christian tradition, it is St John’s Day and is especially important in some gnostic and mystic limbs of the faith. (Excerpt from Ritual by Emma Restall Orr)