Ancient Stargazers

Humans in prehistoric times built monuments to commemorate both the winter and the summer solstices throughout the world. Solstice comes from the Latin words sol meaning sun and sistere meaning to cause to stand still. As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky. Nature religions, both ancient and modern, hold the solstices in great esteem. Modern day druids perform rituals based on old beliefs at Stonehenge each year. In the Americas, Machu Picchu and the Sun Dagger of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico show evidence of ancient astronomical design.

Legends and Lore

June has long been associated with marriages, and much midsummer lore has arisen from the greening time. The act of silently gathering nine kinds of flowers and placing them under a pillow is supposed to reveal in dreams the identity of the person to be wed. The honeymoon to follow was originally a time when the newly-weds would share foods prepared with honey so that their lives together might be sweet. In the Catholic Church, St. John is associated with Midsummer and is believed to be the protector of lovers.

Shakespeare took the fairy legends and lovers' traditions and crafted them into A Midsummer Night's Dream where quarreling lovers, both mortal and otherworldly, madden each other through a potion brewed of magical herbs.

Herbs and flowers harvested on Midsummer Day were believed to have magical qualities. Specially gathered fern seed was believed to make people invisible and guide them to buried treasure, and wreaths and garlands of flowers were devised to bring health to households and ward off evil.

Sir James George Frazer's Golden Bough, a popular work of early anthropology, is a collection of folk legends from the dusty corners of scholarly libraries and includes many references to old Midsummer customs throughout Europe.

New Traditions

The sweltering heat of our region's summers keep many indoors for the season, but some hardy souls gather at the river for picnics, tubing, and the traditional canoe and raft races. Crowds gather at the farmers' markets, especially on Saturday mornings, for the freshest produce of the season. Barbecueing or grilling is another summertime tradition, as are children with a little too much time on their hands. Try books from the library for ideas on how to make summer traditions special.

Summer crafts and summer sweets! Summertime Treats: Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family by Sara Perry encourages the whole gang to get into the act. Let kids help make grilled corn on the cob with herbed butters and treats such as a no-bake chocolate peanut butter candies or an American flag fruit tart.

Books to Share With Small Ones:

When Summer Comes by Robert Maas perfectly captures the glistening sweetness of summer with its photographs and simple text of families sharing the delights of country fairs, fireworks, and beaches for the youngest.

Make bedtime stories for the quiet summer nights especially meaningful. Midsummer Magic: A Garland of Stories, Charms and Recipes by Ellin Greene is filled with traditional tales from Northern Europe celebrating the thinning of the veil between the lands of faerie and humankind that takes place at midsummer. Each story, from The Golden Bird to Count Alaric's Lady, is accompanied by a simple recipe. Try your hand at a traditional Irish Currant Cake or delight the kids with a buttery Midsummer Cake layered with berries and whipped cream.

Looking for more good reading? See the recommended titles below, and ask your librarian for more book suggestions. All the books listed below are owned by the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

On the Web

America Unhenged
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/OVERhenges.html

The famous Stonehenge has inspired a host of well-intentioned imitators. Carhenge in Nebraska is composed of classic vehicles, spray-painted a solemn gray.

Get Set for Summer Solstice!
http://www.familyeducation.com/topic/front/0,1156,1-7122,00.html

"Celebrate the start of summer sun and fun. Soak up some facts, take a quiz, and plan your family's vacation!"

Midsummer Customs and Traditions
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/conkers-and-ghosts/midsummer.htm

Lore and customs of Midsummer.

A Solar Summer Solstice Project
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/196

Ideas for solstice crafts: grapevine wreaths, fun with modeling clay, and more.

Stonehenge: Questions and Answers
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/stonehenge/

PBS invited viewers to go online and ask questions of a British archaelogist in conjunction with its presentation of the Stonehenge documentary.

The Summer Solstice
http://www.equinox-and-solstice.com/html/summer_solstice.html

Old beliefs from the Celtic tradition.

Summer Solstice Celebrations: Ancient and Modern
http://www.religioustolerance.org/summer_solstice.htm

A scientific explanation of the solstice, a listing of midsummer celebrations in ancient and modern times, and dates and times of future solstices.

The Atlas of Mysterious Places: The World's Unexplained Sacred Sites, Symbolic Landscapes, Ancient Cities, and Lost Lands.
Adult Non-Fiction 909 WE

Great photographs and descriptions of ancient sacred sites around the world.

Stonehenge: Opposing Viewpoints. Roop, Peter.
Young Adult Non-Fiction 936.2 Ro

Read opposing viewpoints on the origin and purpose of the mysterious megalithic monument in England.

Stonehenge Revealed. Souden, David.
Adult Non-Fiction 936.2 So

This recent book, produced in cooperation with Stonehenge's caretaker, English Heritage, is filled with lush photographs and chapters discussing Stonehenge's place in prehistory, the people who created it, and its possible uses as a ritual center.

Summer Solstice 2: A Windham Hill Collection.
Audiocassette and Compact Disc 7.8164 S95

Musical warmth from around the world-- Hawaii, Africa, New Orleans, and more.

The Sun Dagger.
Videos 9.789 S95

"The story of America's Stonehenge" describes the discovery of a celestial calendar in the Chaco Canyon in New Mexico which was constructed more than 1,000 years ago by the Anasazi Indians. Explains the complex workings of the calendar and the culture of the Indians who built it."

Arrow to the Sun. McDermott, Gerald.
Juvenile Non-Fiction 398.097 Mc

An adaptation of the Pueblo Indian myth which explains how the spirit of the Lord of the Sun was brought to the world of men. Winner of the Caldecott Medal.

Beginning to Learn about Summer. Allington, Richard L.
Juvenile Non-Fiction 525.5 AL

Introduces the reader to various activities traditionally associated with summer and encourages the discussion of individual experiences.

Done in the Sun: Solar Projects For Children. Hillerman, Anne.
Juvenile Non-Fiction 621.47 Hi

An introduction to the sun as a renewable energy source, demonstrating through simple experiments and craft projects how the sun's light and heat can be used to help us in our everyday lives.

The Summer Solstice. Jackson, Ellen B.
Juvenile Non-Fiction 394.263 Ja

Legends of the solstice from many regions.