# Litha: History, Traditions and Ways to Celebrate > Litha falls on the summer solstice, around 21 June. The longest day. This guide covers where Litha comes from, its folklore, simple ways to celebrate at… URL: https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/guides/litha-guide Updated: 2026-10-30 Litha falls on the summer solstice, around 21 June. The longest day. This guide covers where Litha comes from, its folklore, simple ways to celebrate at home or outdoors in the UK, and what to put on your altar. ## History and meaning The longest day. Thousands gather at Stonehenge each year for the managed solstice sunrise. Midsummer bonfires and St John's wort gathering are old customs. As with every sabbat, modern practice blends genuine old custom with 20th-century revival, and both are part of a living tradition. ## Customs in Britain and Ireland Customs around Litha vary by region, family and path. Look for local fairs, church festivals and folk customs near you; our town guides list heritage sites and seasonal events across the UK. Many old customs were practical, marking the farming year, the movement of animals or the turn of the light, and their meanings grew around that work. ## Ways to celebrate ### At home Watch the sunrise or sunset, gather herbs, have a picnic and light a gold candle at noon. ### Outdoors Walk somewhere that shows the season, such as a hill at sunrise, a wood or a stone circle. Leave nothing behind but footprints. ### With others Share food, tell stories or join an open celebration. Many Druid and pagan groups hold public rites. ### Journaling Write what this season means to you, what you want to release and what you hope to grow before Lughnasadh (Lammas). ## Altar ideas and colours Traditional altar items include gold or yellow candles, citrine, sunstone, sandalwood incense. Add what you find outside: leaves, flowers, seeds or stones. Keep candles on a heat-proof plate, away from anything that could catch, and never leave them alone. ## Folklore St John's Eve bonfires were lit across Cornwall, where the Old Cornwall Societies revived a chain of midsummer fires in 1929. St John's wort was hung over doors, and fairies were thought to be abroad, as in A Midsummer Night's Dream. ## Food and drink Strawberries and cream, elderflower cordial, fresh bread and honey. Mead is a traditional midsummer drink in modern pagan practice. ## Nature at this time Elderflower, dog roses and meadowsweet are in bloom, and glow-worms shine on summer nights in some places. Nights barely get dark in the north. ## The sky at Litha On 21 June 2027: In London the sun rises at about 04:43 and sets at about 21:21. In Cardiff the sun rises at about 04:55 and sets at about 21:33. In Edinburgh the sun rises at about 04:26 and sets at about 22:02. In Belfast the sun rises at about 04:47 and sets at about 22:04. The nearest full moon is on 19 June 2027. Times are calculated and approximate, in UK clock time. ## Reflection prompts ### Looking back What has this last season given you, and what are you ready to let go? ### Looking forward What would you like to have grown by Lughnasadh (Lammas)? ### Gratitude Name three things from the natural world you noticed this week. ## Where it sits on the Wheel Litha comes after Beltane and before Lughnasadh (Lammas). The Wheel of the Year guide covers all eight festivals. UK delivery is £3.95, free on orders over £40, and usually takes 2–5 working days. ## Litha dates for 2026, 2027 and 2028 Solstice and equinox times are calculated with astronomy-engine for UK clock time. The cross-quarter festivals are kept on their fixed calendar dates by most people, though some prefer the astronomical midpoint, a few days later. | Year | Date | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | 2026 | Sunday 21 June 2026 | Exact moment 09:25 BST (calculated) | | 2027 | Monday 21 June 2027 | Exact moment 15:10 BST (calculated) | | 2028 | Tuesday 20 June 2028 | Exact moment 21:01 BST (calculated) | ## Litha on a budget Midsummer is about light, so the main cost is staying up late. Watch the sunset on the longest evening, or get up early to see the sunrise. Gather herbs such as St John's wort, lavender and elderflower (only where you are allowed) and dry them for later in the year. ## Ideas for families - Make elderflower cordial. - Have a picnic tea and watch the sun set. - Make a sun mandala from petals and leaves. - Look for glow-worms on warm June nights in chalk grassland. ## After Litha From now the days shorten. Many people use this as a halfway check on the plans made at Imbolc and Ostara. ## Sunrise and sunset across the UK on the summer solstice, 21 June 2027 Calculated with astronomy-engine for each city, in UK clock time. Day length grows the further north you go in summer and shrinks in winter. | City | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | London | 04:43 | 21:21 | -8h -22m | | Cardiff | 04:55 | 21:33 | -8h -22m | | Birmingham | 04:44 | 21:34 | -8h -11m | | Manchester | 04:39 | 21:41 | -7h -58m | | Belfast | 04:47 | 22:03 | -7h -43m | | Edinburgh | 04:26 | 22:02 | -7h -24m | | Inverness | 04:18 | 22:19 | -6h -59m | ## The moon on the day - Summer solstice 2027: waning gibbous, 94% lit. - Summer solstice 2028: waning crescent, 5% lit. ## Crystals, herbs and colours for Litha - [Sunstone](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/sunstone): peach to orange with a sparkle - [Citrine](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/citrine): sunshine, abundance and optimism, the 'merchant's stone' - [Tiger's eye](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/tiger-eye): courage and confidence; a Roman soldier's charm - [Amber](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/amber): honey-gold to cognac, sometimes with tiny trapped insects or plant pieces - [Carnelian](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/carnelian): courage, creativity and get-up-and-go - Herbs and scents: [lavender](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/incense-and-herbs/lavender), St John's wort, elderflower. - Colours: gold, yellow and orange. ## Seasonal pieces from the shop Real pieces in stock today, with current prices. Each product page lists size, materials and what is included. - [Celestial Energy Atlas Oracle Cards - Spiritual Deck](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/celestial-energy-atlas-oracle-cards-spiritual-deck949): £3.20. - [Manifest Magic Candles (pack of 12) - Violet - Crown Chakra](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/manifest-magic-candles-pack-of-12-violet-crown-chakra953): £1.72. - [Manifest Magic Candles (pack of 12) - Indigo - Third Eye Chakra](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/manifest-magic-candles-pack-of-12-indigo-third-eye-chakra969): £1.72. - [Esoteric Fringed Altar Cloth - Moon & Sun Chart](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/esoteric-fringed-altar-cloth-moon-sun-chart970): £4.00. - [Hop Hare Crystal Magic Flower Candle - The Moon](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/hop-hare-crystal-magic-flower-candle-the-moon971): £11.96. - [Ancient Witch Ritual Water - Fountain of Youth](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/ancient-witch-ritual-water-fountain-of-youth032): £6.40. - [Magic Spell Candle - Protection](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/magic-spell-candle-protection036): £11.20. - [Magic Spell Candle - Prosperity](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/products/magic-spell-candle-prosperity041): £11.20. ## Words worth knowing - **Wheel of the Year**: the modern pagan cycle of eight seasonal festivals, popularised in Britain in the 1950s and 60s. - **Sabbat**: one of those eight festivals. - **Quarter day**: a solstice or equinox, fixed by the sun. - **Cross-quarter day**: a festival roughly halfway between a solstice and an equinox: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. - **Esbat**: a full moon gathering or ritual, as opposed to a sabbat. - **Altar**: a surface set aside for seasonal and ritual objects. ## Questions **When is Litha?** The summer solstice, around 21 June. **How is Litha celebrated?** Watch the sunrise or sunset, gather herbs, have a picnic and light a gold candle at noon. **What colours are used for Litha?** Common choices include gold or yellow candles. **Do I need special tools for Litha?** No. A candle, something seasonal and a quiet moment are enough. **When should I order for Litha?** Allow about five working days before the date. UK delivery is £3.95, free on orders over £40, and usually takes 2–5 working days. **Is Litha a pagan festival?** Litha is one of the eight festivals of the modern pagan Wheel of the Year, marking the sun at its height. Some of its customs are old folk traditions in Britain and Ireland; the name and the eight-festival cycle in its current form date from the 20th century. **How can I celebrate Litha on my own?** Light a candle, go for a walk to notice the season, cook something seasonal and write a few lines about what Litha means to you this year. Solitary celebration is completely normal in modern paganism. **What food is eaten at Litha?** Traditional and seasonal choices include strawberries, elderflower, honey and summer salads. **Can children join in with Litha?** Yes. Crafts, seasonal walks, baking and decorating are all easy ways to include children. Keep candles and fires supervised. **What crystals are used for Litha?** Popular crystals for Litha are [citrine](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/citrine), [sunstone](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/sunstone) and [tiger's eye](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/crystals/tiger-eye). They are chosen for colours and themes that match the season in modern Pagan practice. Place them on your altar or carry one through the festival. Browse our [crystals](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/collections/crystals). These are traditions, not health claims. **What incense is used for Litha?** Traditional scents for Litha include [lavender](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/incense-and-herbs/lavender), [rose](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/incense-and-herbs/rose) and [sandalwood](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/incense-and-herbs/sandalwood). Burn one stick or a little resin while you light a candle or set up your altar. Keep the room ventilated and never leave incense unattended. See our [incense](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/collections/incense). These are traditions rather than rules, so use what you love. **What food is traditional for Litha?** Seasonal food for Litha includes strawberries, elderflower, honey and summer salads. Sharing a meal made from what is in season is one of the simplest ways to mark any festival on the Wheel of the Year. Setting a small portion aside as an offering is a common custom. **Where is Litha celebrated in the UK and Ireland?** Well-known places for Litha include Stonehenge, where thousands watch the solstice sunrise. Many people also mark it quietly at home, in a garden or on a local hill. Check opening times and access rules before visiting any ancient site, and leave nothing behind. **Who is honoured at Litha?** Litha is traditionally linked with the sun at its height. Modern Pagans honour these figures in different ways, from lighting a candle to telling the old stories, and many people simply celebrate the season itself. There is no single correct practice. ## Related - [Wheel of the year guide](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/guides/wheel-of-the-year-guide) - [Ritual kits](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/collections/ritual-kits) - [Candles](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/collections/candles) --- Starseed UK describes spiritual uses as tradition and belief, never as health or medical claims. UK delivery £3.95, free over £40.