(Falls around the 21st of December in the Southern Hemisphere. For information on the Southern Wheel of the Year, see menu in sidebar.)
The weekend before the solstice I went to Ostarian Grove's Midsummer Madness. It was held at a lovely spot in a park beside Sydney Harbour and was a lot of fun. We had a BBQ and played games afterwards.
On the solstice itself I celebrated at home and changed the altar candle from gold to black as the solstice marked the move into the dark half of the year.
Conflict and Confusion
Christmas (Winter Solstice/Yule) on the Christian and secular calendar falls on the 25th of December. Summer Solstice (Litha) on the Southern Wheel fell on the 21st of December in 2008.
Last year, at my first celebration of the Summer Solstice, this caused me a lot of confusion. I was used to the winter imagery of the secular Christmas but it was Summer Solstice not Winter Solstice.
I dealt with the confusion by putting up my usual Christmas decorations on one side of the room and my Summer Solstice altar on the other.
This year I was not confused. I unplugged the television in early December and did not go into the shops in the last week before Christmas. I sent out my usual Christmas cards and wished everyone I saw a Merry Christmas, put out some Christmas decorations, cards and a deer, and left it at that. It was rather pleasant being without the constant barrage of advertising urging me to celebrate Christmas.
The Wheel
The next festival on the Southern Wheel is Lughnasadh, falling around 2nd February.
The next festival on the Wuruma Wheel of the Year is Wuruma Lughnasadh, falling on 21st Feb.
Southern Wheel of the Year
Wuruma Wheel of the Year
