Litha is the Wiccan name for the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, celebrated around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also called Midsummer, and it's a festival of the sun at the height of its power: light, warmth, growth and abundance.
How to pronounce Litha: most people say LITH-uh, with a short "i" like in "with" and the stress on the first syllable. The Old English word it comes from, Līða, had a long vowel, so you'll also hear LEE-thuh. Both are understood in the Pagan community, so don't worry about getting it wrong. You can always just say Midsummer.
In this guide you'll learn what Litha means, where the name comes from, its symbols and correspondences, and easy ways to celebrate it alone or with a coven.
How to Celebrate Litha in 6 Steps
- Greet the sun. Watch the sunrise, or step outside at noon when the sun is highest, and say thank you for its light.
- Set up a Litha altar. Use yellow, orange and gold candles, sunflowers, oak leaves and a sun symbol.
- Light a fire. A bonfire, a fire pit or a single candle all honor the sun's power.
- Balance fire with water. Swim, bless your watering can, or leave a bowl of water in the sun to charge.
- Leave an offering for the fae. Honey, milk, a little cake or a pretty stone in a quiet corner of the garden.
- Share a summer feast. Fresh berries, honey cakes, salads and lemonade, ideally eaten outdoors.
Pick the steps that feel right. A short walk in the sunshine and a candle on your altar is a complete Litha celebration.
When Is Litha?
Litha falls on the summer solstice, which moves by a day or so from year to year. In the Northern Hemisphere it's around June 21 (between June 20 and June 22). Some people celebrate on the solstice itself, others on the evening before (Midsummer Eve) or over a long weekend. An almanac or weather app will give you the exact date and time each year.
In the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are flipped, so Litha falls around December 21, when Northern witches are celebrating Yule. Follow the sun where you live.
On the Wheel of the Year, Litha comes after Beltane and before Lughnasadh, the first harvest festival.
What Is Litha? Its Place on the Wheel of the Year
Wiccans celebrate eight seasonal festivals, or sabbats, on the Wheel of the Year. There are two solstices, two equinoxes, and four cross-quarter days in between. Litha is one of the four solar festivals, the turning point when the days stop growing longer and slowly begin to shorten.
In many Wiccan traditions, the Goddess is pregnant at Litha, carrying the child who will be born at Yule, and the Sun God is at the height of his strength. It's a moment of fullness, but also a quiet reminder that the light will now start to fade. If you'd like to know these figures better, read about the Moon Goddess and the Horned God.
Witches who follow the story of the Holly King and the Oak King see Litha as the day the Oak King, ruler of the light half of the year, reaches his peak. From now on the nights grow longer, and the Holly King slowly takes back the throne.
Where Does the Name Litha Come From?
Midsummer has been celebrated across Europe for centuries, with bonfires on St. John's Eve, flower crowns and dancing. The name Litha, though, comes from Old English. In his 8th-century book The Reckoning of Time, the English monk Bede wrote that the Anglo-Saxons called June Ærra Līða ("before Litha") and July Æfterra Līða ("after Litha").
Bede explained that the word meant "gentle" or "calm," because the summer breezes were gentle and the seas were calm enough for sailing. Unlike Ostara, Bede doesn't link Litha to any goddess, so there's no ancient "Goddess Litha." Modern Pagans adopted the name for the summer solstice sabbat in the 20th century, and it stuck.
Litha Symbols and Correspondences
Because the sun brings life, Litha is a celebration of abundance in every sense. Fire is the main element, so bonfires and candles are everywhere. Many witches balance it with water, since the sun and rain work together to make the land fruitful. Oak trees, roses, sunflowers, honey and the fae are all linked to Midsummer. Here are the main correspondences at a glance:
| Category | Litha correspondences |
|---|---|
| Colors | Gold, yellow, orange, red, green, sky blue, white |
| Crystals | Citrine, sunstone, carnelian, tiger's eye, amber, ruby |
| Herbs | St. John's wort, chamomile, lavender, basil, mint, sage, vervain |
| Flowers and trees | Sunflower, rose, marigold, daisy, oak, rowan, elder |
| Symbols | Sun wheel, bonfire, mirrors, oak leaves, flower crowns, faery houses |
| Foods | Honey, strawberries and summer berries, salads, fresh bread, mead, lemonade |
| Themes | Abundance, strength, success, joy, courage, gratitude |
Litha Colors and Crystals
Litha colors are the bright shades of a summer day: blue skies, green fields and flower colors, plus the gold, yellow, orange and red of the sun. Use them for clothes, decorations and candles (our guide to candle color meanings has more ideas).
Sunny crystals fit the season. Amber and tiger's eye are linked to protection, patience and willpower. Carnelian and ruby are said to boost courage and energy. If you're short on motivation for a goal, many witches add citrine or sunstone to their spellwork at Midsummer.
Litha Flowers, Trees and Herbs
The oak is the great tree of Midsummer, a symbol of strength and of the Oak King. Rowan is traditionally linked to protection and courage, and elder to change and creativity.
For flowers, use whatever is blooming near you. Sunflowers, roses, marigolds, daisies and lilies are all in season around Midsummer in many places. St. John's wort is the classic Midsummer herb (it's named after St. John's Day, June 24), and chamomile, lavender, basil, mint and sage are all lovely in Litha spells and sachets. Orange or lemon incense makes a bright cleansing scent. For more herb ideas, see our best herbs for a witch's garden.
Litha Foods and Drinks
The bees work hard all spring, and summer is when we enjoy their gifts, so honey is the classic flavor of Litha. Stir it into lemonade or tea, bake honey cakes, or share a glass of mead.
Summer fruit is the star of the table: strawberries, cherries, apricots, peaches, blueberries and melon, fresh or baked into cakes and pies. For savory food, think fresh bread, tomato and cucumber salads, and a barbecue or picnic outdoors.
How to Celebrate Litha, Alone or With a Coven
You don't have to do everything on this list. Pick the activities that help you feel close to the season and to your path. These all work for solitary witches as well as groups.
Go for a Nature Walk or Tend Your Plants
One of the simplest Litha activities is to get outside. Visit a park, forest or beach and take it all in. Gather a few wildflowers for your altar if they're plentiful and picking is allowed. If you live in a city, tend your houseplants, or bring home a new plant to welcome summer.
Even a sunny bench in your neighborhood will do. Sit in the light for a few minutes, scatter some seeds for the birds, and think about where you want the rest of the year to take you. Wear sunscreen and drink water: the solstice sun is strong.
Leave Offerings for the Fae
Midsummer is traditionally a time when the fae are especially active (Shakespeare set A Midsummer Night's Dream on this night for a reason). Many witches leave them a small offering to stay on good terms: a bit of cake, cookies, honey, milk or a shiny trinket.
If you'd like to invite them in, make a little faery house, even from a simple wooden birdhouse. Folklore says the fae can be mischievous, so many witches place faery houses at the far end of the garden rather than right by the door. Avoid leaving out food that's harmful to pets or wildlife, like chocolate.
Practice Water Magick
Litha is the peak of the sun's fire, and water brings balance. Take a dip in a lake or the sea, have a beach day, or throw a pool party for your coven. Only swim where it's safe and permitted. If that's not possible, bless your watering can and water your garden, or leave a jar of water in the sunshine to make sun water for your altar.
Set Up a Litha Altar
Sabbats are a great time to refresh your altar. Before you begin, cleanse your space and tools with incense or sound. Then add the colors, flowers and crystals from the table above, plus fruit, herbs and vegetables as offerings. If you're new to altars, our beginner's guide to Wiccan altars explains the basics.
Since the sun is the main symbol, bring in sun images, mirrors and gold or yellow candles. Some witches light a candle in front of a mirror while saying a Litha prayer, to double its light. On a cloudy or rainy solstice, a candle can stand in for the sun. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Make Litha Decorations
Crafty witches have lots of options. Make a flower crown, weave a sun wheel from twigs and twine, or make a suncatcher from colored glass. Dried citrus slices make sunny ornaments: slice oranges or lemons thinly and dry them in the oven on very low heat for a few hours. You can also shape sun discs from salt dough, bake them, paint them and hang them around your home. Our witch crafts article has more ideas.
Try Some Litha Recipes
Baking is an easy way to get into the festive mood. Make a honey cake, a strawberry cake or any dessert you love, and decorate it with edible flowers or a sun pattern.
For drinks, try mead, lemonade or sweet tea. To make a simple lavender syrup, rinse a handful of culinary lavender, put it in a bowl with a cup of sugar, pour over a cup of boiling water, stir, and let it steep for 30 minutes before straining. Use it to sweeten tea or lemonade. Only use flowers you know are edible and haven't been sprayed.
A Simple Litha Ritual
Many witches rise with the sun on the solstice, or hold their ritual at noon when the sun is highest. Here's a short ritual you can do alone or adapt for a group.
You will need: a yellow or gold candle, a bowl of water, a few flowers or oak leaves, and a small offering like honey or bread.
- Set everything on your altar or outside in the sun. Take a few slow breaths.
- Light the candle and say: Great Sun, at the height of your power, I thank you for your light, your warmth and all that grows.
- Hold your hands over the water and imagine sunlight pouring into it. Say what you want to grow in your life this summer.
- Dip your fingers in the water and touch your forehead and heart.
- Leave the offering outside for the earth, and let the candle burn while you sit and reflect (or snuff it and relight it later).
Covens often celebrate with singing, drumming and dancing around a bonfire, followed by a picnic. June is a popular month for handfastings too, so Litha is a lovely time for a ceremony or for renewing vows. To learn more about all eight sabbats, take a look at our Wiccan Holidays course.
Final Thoughts
Litha is a celebration of light, warmth and everything the sun helps to grow. You don't need a coven or a bonfire to honor it. Watching the sunrise, eating fresh strawberries or lighting a candle on your altar are all real ways to mark the longest day. Trust what feels meaningful to you.
How will you celebrate the summer solstice this year? Tell us your favorite Litha tradition.
Sources
- Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain (1996)
- Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (1988)
Check out our other articles:
Wiccan Holidays: Beltane
Wiccan Holidays: Lughnasadh
The Holly King and the Oak King
The Wheel of the Year
See All Articles
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Litha FAQs
How do you pronounce Litha?
Most people say LITH-uh, with a short i as in "with" and the stress on the first syllable. Because the Old English word had a long vowel, some people say LEE-thuh. Both are fine, and you can always call it Midsummer.
Is Litha the same as Midsummer?
Yes. Litha is the Wiccan and modern Pagan name for the summer solstice, which is also known as Midsummer. Traditional Midsummer celebrations in Europe are often held on June 23 or 24, St. John's Eve and Day, a few days after the solstice.
When is Litha in the Southern Hemisphere?
In the Southern Hemisphere, Litha falls on the December solstice, around December 21. Many witches there celebrate the sabbats according to their own seasons, so Litha swaps places with Yule.
Is there a goddess named Litha?
No. Litha comes from the Old English name for the midsummer months, recorded by Bede, and he didn't link it to any goddess. At Litha, Wiccans honor the Goddess and the Sun God, and some honor solar deities they already work with.
What colors are used for Litha?
Litha colors are gold, yellow, orange and red for the sun, plus green, sky blue and white for summer nature. Use them for candles, altar cloths, flowers and clothing.
Can I celebrate Litha alone?
Of course. Many witches celebrate every sabbat on their own. Watch the sunrise, light a candle, spend time outside and enjoy some summer fruit. A simple, heartfelt celebration counts just as much as a big one.
