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LITHA (Midsummer) & Summer Solstice Mithraists might want to celebrate the Summer Solstice , happening now (20th-21st June) - when the sun is at its highest in the sky, and days are at their longest. There are traditions of lighting bonfires and fiery sun-wheels at Midsummer. The festival is also associated with water and rain. In some places there is a custom of bathing at midsummer in order to purify the body. The Persians called upon the god Tishtrya to bring rain at this time. "In a hymn of the Iranian Avesta, Tishtrya is involved in a cosmic struggle against the drought-bringing demon Apaosha. According to the myth, in the form of a pure white horse the god did battle with the demon who, in contrast, had assumed the form of a terrifying black horse. Apaosa soon gained the upper hand over Tishtrya, who was weakened from the lack of sufficient prayers and sacrifices from humankind. The yazata proceeded to call upon the Creator Ahura Mazda, who himself then intervened by offering a sacrifice to the overwhelmed god. Infused with the power brought by this sacrifice, Tishtrya was able to overcome Apaosa, and his rains were able to flow to the parched fields and pastures unabated by drought. " Litha is a word we could use for the Midsummer festival in Mithraism. Litha might best be celebrated at the time of the solstice, but there is also a tradition in Europe of celebrating midsummer on the 24th June. Another option would be the first Sunday after the solstice. |