Pagan floral rites have marked the summer solstice since ancient times. This year, June 20th is longest day of the year from sunrise to sunset.
In some parts of the world, these rites have been co-opted as a celebration of St. John’s Day. Hypericum flowers, also known as St. John’s wort, were traditionally gathered in England for rituals and festivities. Decked with crowns of these yellow blooms and vervain, young people would dance around a bonfire. Praying for a better year to come, they would throw flowers into the flames.
According to the nineteenth century language of flowers, Saint John’s Wort signifies ‘Superstition.’ In France and Germany, the flower was traditionally hung above doors to repel evil spirits from entering their homes.
Summer Solstice celebrations go by many names. In Nordic countries, the seasonal transition is known as Midsommar. The festivities begin with picking wildflowers to twist and weave into wreaths.
Eastern Slavic cultures celebrate Kupala Night. The shortest night of the year brings rituals to attract romance and good fortune. Love potions are concocted with a potent combo of mint and oregano. Some sip milk through a floral wreath. Crowns made of periwinkle, geranium, rose, basil, fern, blackberry, oak and birch are often thrown into water or burned in a bonfire.
“In Polesia, at the dawn of St. John's Day, peasants would choose the prettiest girl from among themselves, strip her naked and wrap her from head to toe in wreaths of flowers, then go to the forest, where the "dzevko-kupalo" (girl-kupalo – as the chosen girl was called) would distribute the previously prepared wreaths to her girlfriends. She would blindfold herself, and the girls would walk around her in a merry dance. The garland that someone received was used to foretell future fate: a fresh garland meant a rich and happy marriage, a dry garland meant poverty and an unhappy marriage: "she will not have happiness, she will live in misery.”
- Apollon A. Korinfsy, 1901
Latvians celebrate Jāņi. Branches of birch, oak and rowan, ferns and wildflowers are gathered and brought inside to decorate the home. People wear flower crowns while leaping over a bonfire to rid themselves of burden.
Bulgarians celebrate Enyovden. Eligible women drop bunches of flowers and rings into jugs of water believed to hold special powers. This “silent water” is guarded all night by a fortune teller. In the morning, a blindfolded child (who is dressed as a bride) pulls out the flowers and rings to predict the future husbands.
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Portugal celebrates the Festival of São João. Long allium stems are waved around in the street, and strangers are greeted with a flower bop on the head. In more recent times, it has become more common to hit people with a plastic toy hammer instead. The tradition began as a superstition in the nineteenth century. People gathered roadside leek flowers to place behind their doors to ward off evil spirits.
In the Southern Hemisphere, this time of year marks the winter solstice. Incan tradition honors the sun god Inti with the Inti Raymi Festival.
Celebrations in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru include reenactments of traditional rituals, processions, dance, and music.
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In Cusco, Peru a procession leads from the Inca Temple of the Sun to archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán. Specially designated people run ahead to sweep the road and toss flowers to soften the path.
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Micro-Seasons
This system of 24 solar terms (sekki) was designed by farmers in ancient China. Each term includes three sets of five days, resulting in 72 micro-seasons.
Each carries a poetic name recognizing the natural phenomenon of that specific time of year. They were once a helpful reminder for the correct time to plant or harvest crops.
Japanese court astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai re wrote this system in 1685 to match the local climate in Japan.
The solar term that occurs between June 21 to July 6 is known as the Summer Solstice.
in Japanese Geshi 夏至 / in Chinese Xiazhi 夏至
The micro-seasons within Geshi are
June 21–26 乃東枯 - Natsukarekusa karuru - Prunella flowers wither
June 27–July 1 菖蒲華- Ayame hana saku - Irises bloom
July 2 - 6 半夏生 - Hange shōzu - Crowdipper sprouts
We are about to enter “Prunella flowers wither.”
Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as self-heal, heal-all, woundwort, or blue curls has been used for medicinal purposes by many people. The name Prunella is derived from 'Brunella', which came from "die Bräune", a German name for diphtheria. Prunella was once used to treat diphtheria.
In traditional Chinese medicine, prunella is used to treat dry cough, dizziness, red eyes, and dermatitis. It’s a main ingredient in the popular herbal tea Wong Lo Kat.
The Indigenous Omàmiwininì of Quebec use self-heal as a fever reducer. The Nlakaʼpamux people of the Pacific Northwest drink a cold infusion of the whole plant.
Which Micro-Season were you born in? I was born during “The ground is damp, the air hot and humid.”
See the full Japanese calendar below:
Risshun (立春) (Beginning of Spring)
1 - February 4–8
東風解凍 - Harukaze kōri o toku
The east wind melts the thick ice.
2 - February 9–13
黄鶯睍睆 - Kōō kenkan su
Bush warblers sing in the countryside.
3 - February 14–18
魚上氷 - Uo kōri o izuru
Ice cracks, allowing fish to emerge.
Usui (雨水) (Rain Water)
4 - February 19–23
土脉潤起 - Tsuchi no shō uruoi okoru
Rain falls, moistening the soil.
5 - February 24–28
霞始靆 - Kasumi hajimete tanabiku
Mist lies over the land.
6 - March 1–5
草木萌動 - Sōmoku mebae izuru
Trees and plants put forth buds.
Keichitsu (啓蟄) (Insects Awakening)
7 - March 6–10
蟄虫啓戸 - Sugomori mushito o hiraku
Hibernating insects emerge.
8 - March 11–15
桃始笑 - Momo hajimete saku
Peach trees begin to bloom.
9 - March 16–20
菜虫化蝶 - Namushi chō to naru
Cabbage whites emerge from their cocoons.
Shunbun (春分) (Spring Equinox)
10 - March 21–25
雀始巣 - Suzume hajimete sukū
Sparrows begin building their nests.
11 - March 26–30
櫻始開 - Sakura hajimete saku
Cherry blossoms begin to bloom.
12 - March 31–April 4
雷乃発声 - Kaminari sunawachi koe o hassu
Thunder rumbles far away.
Seimei (清明) (Fresh Green)
13 - April 5–9
玄鳥至 - Tsubame kitaru
Swallows return from the south.
14 - April 10–14
鴻雁北 - Kōgan kaeru
Wild geese fly north.
15 - April 15–19
虹始見 - Niji hajimete arawaru
Rainbows begin to appear.
Kokuu (穀雨) (Grain Rain)
16 - April 20–24
葭始生 - Ashi hajimete shōzu
Reeds begin to sprout.
17 - April 25–29
霜止出苗 - Shimo yamite nae izuru
Rice seedlings grow.
18 - April 30–May 4
牡丹華 - Botan hana saku
Peonies bloom.
Rikka (立夏) (Beginning of Summer)
19 - May 5–9
蛙始鳴 - Kawazu hajimete naku
Frogs begin croaking.
20 - May 10–14
蚯蚓出 - Mimizu izuru
Worms wriggle to the surface.
21 - May 15–20
竹笋生 - Takenoko shōzu
Bamboo shoots sprout.
Shōman (小満) (Lesser Fullness)
22 - May 21–25
蚕起食桑 - Kaiko okite kuwa o hamu
Silkworms feast on mulberry leaves.
23 - May 26–30
紅花栄 - Benibana sakau
Safflowers bloom in abundance.
24 - May 31–June 5
麦秋至 - Mugi no toki itaru
Barley ripens, ready to be harvested.
Bōshu (芒種) (Grain in Ear)
25 - June 6–10
蟷螂生 - Kamakiri shōzu
Praying mantises hatch and come forth.
26 - June 11–15
腐草為螢 - Kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naru
Fireflies fly out from moist grass.
27 - June 16–20
梅子黄 - Ume no mi kibamu
Plums ripen, turning yellow.
Geshi (夏至) (Summer Solstice)
28 - June 21–26
乃東枯 - Natsukarekusa karuru
Prunella flowers wither.
29 - June 27–July 1
菖蒲華 - Ayame hana saku
Irises bloom.
30 - July 2–6
半夏生 - Hange shōzu
Crowdipper sprouts.
Shōsho (小暑) (Lesser Heat)
31 - July 7–11
温風至 - Atsukaze itaru
Warm winds blow.
32 - July 12–16
蓮始開 - Hasu hajimete hiraku
Lotuses begin to bloom.
33 - July 17–22
鷹乃学習 - Taka sunawachi waza o narau
Young hawks learn to fly.
Taisho (大暑) (Greater Heat)
34 - July 23–28
桐始結花 - Kiri hajimete hana o musubu
Paulownia trees begin to produce seeds.
35 - July 29–August 2
土潤溽暑 - Tsuchi uruōte mushi atsushi
The ground is damp, the air hot and humid.
36 - August 3–7
大雨時行 - Taiu tokidoki furu
Heavy rains fall.
Risshū (立秋) (Beginning of Autumn)
37 - August 8–12
涼風至 - Suzukaze itaru
Cool winds blow.
38 - August 13–17
寒蝉鳴 - Higurashi naku
Evening cicadas begin to sing.
39 - August 18–22
蒙霧升降 - Fukaki kiri matō
Thick fog blankets the land.
Shosho (処暑) Shosho (End of Heat)
40 - August 23–27
綿柎開 - Wata no hana shibe hiraku
Cotton bolls open.
41 - August 28–September 1
天地始粛 - Tenchi hajimete samushi
The heat finally relents.
42 - September 2–7
禾乃登 - Kokumono sunawachi minoru
Rice ripens.
Hakuro (白露) (White Dew)
43 - September 8–12
草露白 - Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi
White dew shimmers on the grass.
44 - September 13–17
鶺鴒鳴 - Sekirei naku
Wagtails begin to sing.
45 - September 18–22
玄鳥去 - Tsubame saru
Swallows return to the south.
Shūbun (秋分) (Autumnal Equinox)
46 - September 23–27
雷乃収声 - Kaminari sunawachi koe o osamu
Thunder comes to an end.
47 - September 28–October 2
蟄虫坏戸 - Mushi kakurete to o fusagu
Insects close up their burrows.
48 - October 3–7
水始涸 - Mizu hajimete karuru
Fields are drained of water.
Kanro (寒露) (Cold Dew)
49 - October 8–12
鴻雁来 - Kōgan kitaru
Wild geese begin to fly back.
50 - October 13–17
菊花開 - Kiku no hana hiraku
Chrysanthemums bloom.
51 - October 18–22
蟋蟀在戸 - Kirigirisu to ni ari
Crickets chirp by the door.
Sōkō (霜降) (First Frost)
52 - October 23–27
霜始降 - Shimo hajimete furu
Frost begins to form.
53 - October 28–November 1
霎時施 - Kosame tokidoki furu
Drizzling rain falls gently.
54 - November 2–6
楓蔦黄 - Momiji tsuta kibamu
Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow.
Rittō (立冬) (Beginning of Winter)
55 - November 7–11
山茶始開 - Tsubaki hajimete hiraku
Sasanqua camellias begin to bloom.
56 - November 12–16
地始凍 - Chi hajimete kōru
The land begins to freeze.
57 - November 17–21
金盞香 - Kinsenka saku
Daffodils bloom.
Shōsetsu (小雪) (Light Snow)
58 - November 22–26
虹蔵不見 - Niji kakurete miezu
Rainbows disappear.
59 - November 27–December 1
朔風払葉 - Kitakaze konoha o harau
The north wind blows leaves off the trees.
60 - December 2–6
橘始黄 - Tachibana hajimete kibamu
Tachibana citrus trees begin to turn yellow.
Taisetsu (大雪) (Heavy Snow)
61 - December 7–11
閉塞成冬 - Sora samuku fuyu to naru
The skies stay cold as winter arrives.
62 - December 12–16
熊蟄穴 - Kuma ana ni komoru
Bears hide away in their dens to hibernate.
63 - December 17–21
鱖魚群 - Sake no uo muragaru
Salmon swim upstream en masse.
Tōji (冬至) (Winter Solstice)
64 - December 22–26
乃東生 - Natsukarekusa shōzu
Prunella sprouts.
65 - December 27–31
麋角解 - Sawashika no tsuno otsuru
Deer shed their antlers.
66 - January 1–4
雪下出麦 - Yuki watarite mugi nobiru
Barley sprouts under the snow.
Shōkan (小寒) (Lesser Cold)
67 - January 5–9
芹乃栄 - Seri sunawachi sakau
Parsley thrives.
68 - January 10–14
水泉動 - Shimizu atataka o fukumu
Springs once frozen flow once more.
69 - January 15–19
雉始雊 - Kiji hajimete naku
Cock pheasants begin to call.
Daikan (大寒) (Greater Cold)
70 - January 20–24
款冬華 - Fuki no hana saku
Butterburs put forth buds.
71 - January 25–29
水沢腹堅 - Sawamizu kōri tsumeru
Mountain streams gain a cover of thick ice.
72 - January 30–February 3
鶏始乳 - Niwatori hajimete toya ni tsuku
Hens begin to lay eggs.
Happy Summer Solstice!