Can anyone tell me any magical legends or myths surrounding Midsummer Eve?

Question

I'm writing a story set on Midsummer Eve, specifically about the magic surrounding such a date.

Would you consider that a date on which "magical" or mysterious things might happen, in particular, magic pertaining to love/romance and related things?

Answer 1

Its a time that the fairies and nature spirits are very active and cross back and forth into our realm and theirs. they play tricks on unsuspecting humans. Midsummer the longest day of the year....and so the shortest night. Cast love spells on this night...leave cream , butter or whiskey out for the fairies
as an offering in exchange for their help in your garden, or protection for your home. It is the exact opposite of Halloween on the wheel of the year. And so instead of the spirits of the dead roaming the earth, the spirits of nature and light roam. . here are some good links :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litha
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/litha.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/Athens/5606/litha.html
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/conkers-and-ghosts/midsummer.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Magical-Celebrations-Summer-Solstice/dp/0738700525

Answer 2

Midsummer Day - when the first battle between the Firbolgs and the Tuatha de Danaan began, which lasted for four days
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And the weeks pass, and the Sun grows ever stronger in the
sky, and the King grows in strength and majesty. The Queen begins
to show signs of her pregnancy, the mirror of the crops and fruits
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
that the Land begins to produce, for the Queen represents the Land,
and is at one with it.
At last the day arrives when the Sun reaches its most powerful
time: the Midsummer Solstice. The King and Queen are at their
peak too, reflected in the majesty of the King, and the growing
life in the womb of the Queen. To mark this day, the King and
Queen host a great celebration in the forest clearing: a feast to
mark the Solstice day, and their own creative powers which have
brought many good things to the Land. All day the feast and games
continue, with the King and Queen bestowing their blessings upon
everyone.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MIDSUMMER (circa June 21)

Before the rite, make up a small cloth pouch filled with herbs such as lavender, chamomile, St. John's Wort, vervain, or any of the Midsummer herbs listed in "An Herbal Grimoire." Mentally pour all your troubles, problems, pains, sorrows and illnesses, if any, into this petition as you construct it. Tie it shut with a red string. Place this on the altar for use during the rite. The cauldron should also be there or nearby. Even if you use candles to mark the quarters, the red candle in a holder should also be on the altar. For outdoor rituals, light a fire - however small - and drop the pouch into this.
Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the altar and say, with wand upraised:

I celebrate the noon of summer with mystic rites.
O great Goddess and God,
all nature vibrates with Your energies and the Earth is bathed with warmth and life.
Now is the time of forgetting past cares and banes;
O fiery Sun,
burn away the unuseful,
the hurtful,
the bane,
in Your omnipotent power.
Purify me!
Purify me!
Purify me!

 Lay the wand on the altar. Take up the herbal petition and light it in the red candle on the altar (or, if outdoors, the ritual fire).
When it is burning drop it into the cauldron (or some other heat-proof container) and say:


I banish you by the powers of the Goddess and God!
I banish you by the powers of the Sun,
Moon and Stars!
I banish you by the powers of the Earth,
Air,
Fire and Water!

Pause, seeing the hurts and pains burning into nothingness. Then say:

O Gracious Goddess,
O Gracious God,
on this night of Midsummer magick I pray that You charge my life with wonder and joy.
Help me in attuning with the energies adrift on the enchanted night air.
I give thanks.

Reflect upon the purification you have undergone. Feel the powers of nature flowing through you, washing you clean with divine energy.
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.

Answer 3

Sounds like a fun story. Did you ever see the movie, "The Wicker Man"? It reaches its climax on Midsummer Eve.

Don't know the locale or time in which your story is set, but there is much varied folklore in different cultures. I do have some pertaining to early Celtic and current Swedish cultures, but you can probably find as much as you want with a simple Google search on Midsummer Eve folklore. Good luck!

Answer 4

I just wrote a paper about Shakespeare's play and the folklore surrounding Midsummer's Eve. If you want you can read it. There are quite a few references to the "love" aspects of the celebration.

Answer 5

Um...I don't know if this really counts, but Litha, a Wiccan holiday is then...which has different meanings for different Wiccans...but mostly about celebrating the sun at its peak and preparing for the slow descent into winter.

Answer 6

You are talking about pagan ceremonies, That changes to often as time went on.. And the original ceremonies have been totally lost in time and space..........................................................................................