Litha

[meridian_rose]

Magickal Graphics

Litha is also known as the Summer Solstice, Midsummer, Midsummer Night, Midsummer Night's Eve, Gathering Day, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, St. John's Day. Usually celebrated around June 21, the Summer Solstice marks the time when the sun is at the highest point before beginning its slide into darkness.
This year it coincides with Father's Day, at least in the UK.
This is a bittersweet sabbat, since it marks a 'going away' of the light. On the other hand, some of the best weather of the year can be expected now – English weather peculiarities aside!
On the Wheel of the Year Litha lies directly across from Yule, the shortest day of the calendar year, when days begin to lengthen. Yule is probably my favourite holiday for this reason among others. Happy Yule to all those in the Southern Hemisphere :D

I posted a much longer piece about Litha, Father's Day, and the solstice correspondences, at my Wordpress journal:https://lmdee.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/summer-solstice-litha-and-fathers-day/