I am helping to organize a solstice celebration involving students
directly from or descended from many different cultures, and would
like to know what ceremonies or traditions you observe or know of.
I think when I grew up the main tradition was lighting a giant
bonfire in the evening.
Do most people begin the observances on the day of the solstice
(June 21 this year), and conduct a vigil past sunset, or begin
on the previous evening, June 21, and conduct a vigil until
dawn, and then until noon? Does midsummer's eve refer to
the evening before midsummer or the evening of midsummer?
Also, since the new moon almost coincides with the solstice
this year, I was wondering if there is any significance,
in your culture, your belief framework or in myth, of the
coincidence of the dark of the moon with the strength of
the sun.
Note that I have set the Followup-to to alt.pagan,soc.culture.misc.
You can override this if you like, but preferably only to newsgroups
you think would be interested in your reply. I am also willing
to receive e-mail replies and post a later summary if
that is more convenient.
(I hope the world can come together in peace for a global celebration.)
-- David Dalton ------------------------------ <Dalton@Geop.UBC.Ca> ------ Dept. of Geophysics & Astronomy, (604) 822-2267 2219 Main Mall, University of British Columbia fax 822-6047 Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z4 home 733-1303