In a previous post, we talked about the possibility of celebrating Mabon on Thanksgiving. If it works with that sabbat and your personal practice, it may work with Midsummer as well.
In the realm of Wicca, witchcraft, nature-based religions and practices, and ancient times, the Midsummer is celebrated on the summer solstice – among many names such as Litha, Summer Solstice, or Midsommar. That usually falls somewhere between June 20th and 22nd, depending on whether it’s a leap year or not.
But depending on where you live or your schedule, peak summer may not feel like peak summer until July, and a very common holiday (at least in America) is the Fourth of July.
In our Mabon / Thanksgiving post, we talked about how moving the date of the sabbat could work for closeted witches or for those who aren’t quite comfortable telling everyone about their beliefs and practices – and the same goes for Litha and the Fourth of July.
It’s common for families to get together for barbeques, pool days, camping, and other outdoor celebrations around this time. Your family doesn’t have to know you’re doing so in honor of Litha and nature rather than the United State’s independence.
It can be quiet and internal, just for you.
This works great for practitioner’s who want to celebrate and do things with others, but are nervous about sharing the true reason why. You can work kitchen witchery and herbalism into summer bakes and meals and share a true feast with your family and friends without them even knowing. You can scatter native wildflower seeds or bird feed around and explain it as for the environment rather than an offering.
As a federal holiday, the Fourth of July is a guaranteed off day for many people in government jobs or corporate workplaces, meaning it may be easier to do a spell or ritual in honor of summer on a day where you know you have time to do it the way you really want.
If you’re interested in reading more about altering the sabbats to work for you, or creating your own celebrations for local holidays and based on your personal life, I would 100% recommend "The Year of the Witch" by Temperance Alden.
Personally, I often find that doing a more personal spell or ritual on the traditional day of the summer solstice and more people-filled gathering on Fourth of July works best for me and my style. That gives me the time to honor the seasons and the earth both privately, and celebrate with a fun activity with others more publicly.