Finding ways to celebrate Brighid in the peak of summer.
(Image description: A photo of the sun shining brightly through some tall trees.) Credit: Photo by Patrick on Unsplash
Midsummer begins today, and it also marks the second anniversary of this blog! It’s a small accomplishment, but I am happy to see it through this far. I’ve had my own obstacles while writing posts for it, but I do it to show my devotion to the deities in my life.
While the summer solstice is celebrated with bonfires and merrymaking, it’s difficult to do so when the heat index is in the triple digits. There’s also been a lack of rain that makes the prospect of having a fire risky. On top of that, summer is my least favorite season because of the rising temperatures.
On the plus side, the days will now become incrementally shorter and darker (huzzah!), but the cooler days of fall and winter still seem like a long ways off.
Now, apart from paying rent to Manannan Mac Lir, I don’t know of any other deities underneath the Celtic Polytheistic umbrella that are specifically honored during the summer. Bonfires are lit during the summer solstice in many places in Europe, and some Polytheists can choose to honor specific deities during this time of year.
However, where does this leave Brighid? She’s sometimes noted as a solar goddess, when those qualities refer more to Her shining warmth and radiance than any direct affiliation with the sun. Her main association are with Imbolc and St. Brigid’s Day with celebrations for the later half of winter and early signs of spring. There is the mention of Brighid of the Seasons in the Carmina Gadelica, and the Clann Bhríde Book of Hours lists the day as a way to honor the three Brighid sisters.
If anything, the summer solstice could be seen as a strengthening of Brighid’s fiery aspects. Her healing, inspirational, creative, and protective blessings might be viewed as multiplied, and that’s worth celebrating while staying cool as possible. Working on a craft, ensuring the safety of the hearth, practicing self-care or looking after your health all seem like good ways to honor Her at the midpoint between spring and fall.
My summer celebrations will stretch into the latter part of the week, since my next flamekeeping shift starts around the time of St. John’s Eve (a time when the summer solstice would’ve been observed). As mentioned, conditions are almost too dry to have a bonfire, but tending Her flame feels like an excellent substitute. I’m not entirely sure what I will do during that time, but I will figure it out soon enough.
If you’re a long-time reader, thank you for sticking around this long. To any new readers, I hope you enjoy what I offer here. Have a safe and joyful solstice, wherever you are!
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