The summer solstice will soon be upon us. On the plus side, that means warmer weather, maybe a touch of sun bathing, barbecues even. On the minus side it means nice bare skin for the mozzies to nibble at and - just to prick everyone’s balloon – from June 21st (ish) the nights will start getting longer. Winter will soon be here, so eat drink and be merry for tomorrow it rains!
The British summer usually consists of two fine days and a thunderstorm (or one “quite nice” day, if you live in Scotland). So, in honour of the occasion doNOWdo is giving you a lightning tour of events to celebrate the longest day.
Fiery Stuff
The summer solstice celebrations in the UK originated as a Celtic fire festival. Beacons were lit on hill tops, animals blessed with fire and drunken youths competed to jump over the flaming embers. Possibly the nearest you will get to one of these ancient rituals is on Jersey, where they burn a wicker man on the beach. There’s music, drumming, sand castle building (maybe not so traditionally Celtic, that, but what the hell!) and fire juggling.
Chester has a good crack at some traditional celebrations, with a little bit of fire and a lot of costume, dance, fairies, devils and giants taking part in their Midsummer Watch Parade.
Shakespeary Stuff
Part of the tradition surrounding the summer solstice was that fairies were out and about on this night. (A good guys reunion. The bad guys having their frolic at Halloween) Hence Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream featuring playful fairies having a bit of a lark. For those who find Shakespeare’s comedies all a bit laboured – lovers who don’t recognise each other just because of a change of frock; long lost shipwrecked twins; girls who are really boys; boys who are really girls and a good dollop of racism and sexism – A Midsummer Night’s Dream is really worth giving a go. Surprisingly accessible, very visual, which is a help if you find Shakespeare’s English a little tricky, it is genuinely funny.
There are productions on at the open air theatre in Regents Park, Maldon Promenade Park Amphitheatre and Countess Weir Community Theatre in Exeter.
Mystical Stuff
The Cosmic Wheel is turning! It’s official! At doNOWdo the biggest Mystery we know of is what’s in our Web Manager’s bag of tricks. But if you are in to Cosmic Wheelies you’ll understand the significance of all this mystical stuff. So you just might like to glide along to:
The Summer Solstice Open Ritual on Brighton Beach, to enjoy a picnic and watch the sunset. You are asked to take vegetarian contributions to the feast. They do not say what will happen to you if you turn up with a sausage roll.
The Pendel Witch Camp where you can learn about crystals, sonic healing, pathworking to fairy land and celebrate with other witches and heathens. There are also potion workshops for kids – so parents take care they don’t spike your drinks! They are rather cagey about where the event is taking place, so if you want to go, you need to contact them direct. ade@spiritedaway.co.uk
Peter Beale Roses where they have psychic readings in the rose garden, with mystics, crystal readers, ghost investigators. They even claim a special guest appearance by an angel.
Of course, the biggest mystical site in the UK is Stonehenge. Gone are the days when there were running battles between modern day druids and the police: one side determined to see in the summer with ancient ritual and the other side equally determined that it was Un-British, Un-Christian, Un-Hygienic and generally Un. English Heritage, who look after Stonehenge, have now got their act together and apart from the wholly reasonable requests not to climb all over their uniquely important monument, they have adopted a positively welcoming attitude. Good on them. Access to the site is from 8.30 pm on Wednesday 20th June to 8.00 a.m on the Thursday morning.
Retail Stuff
You didn’t seriously expect a festival to pop up without a chance to be separated from the contents of your wallet, did you?
Cambridge’s Midsummer Common is one the country’s traditional sites for fleecing the public at solstice time. The fair goes back some 800 years, although when it started it probably didn’t have jazz and white knuckle rides.
Glastonbury Festival will be in full swing by the weekend but if you haven't already bankrupted yourself on a ticket, it's too late now. For the optimists among you there is the consoling thought that you can see it for free on telly - BBC 2, 3 and 4 are all covering it - and whilst you may not experience the full atmosphere in your sitting room, you're also unlikely to get trench foot if it rains
Serious Stuff
Sutton Hoo hosts a dinner, lecture and tour by Anglo Saxon specialist Dr Sam Newton on the historic significance of the burial mounds.
Kirklees in Huddersfield is the venue for a guided walk to learn about the ancient landscape of Castle Hill
The Burford Festival in Oxfordshire runs from 16-24 June. It is a festival of music, poetry and literature and features Morris Men on the night of the 21st who will dance to welcome in the longest day.