All About the Solstice
Are you ready for Saturday?
Put on your brightest clothes, grab some sunglasses, and get outside this weekend! (Responsibly, of course.) The summer solstice is upon us. Fun fact: Did you know the summer solstice and Midsummer aren’t actually the same? While the solstice is the actual longest day of the year, Midsummer refers to the series of celebrations taking place between June 19 and June 24 to celebrate the solstice.
Regardless of when you honor the day, we’ve got our eye on how to keep your bellies full of solstice-themed food. Writer Mady Oswald shares her favorite recipes for celebrating with a culinary flair.
Supping with the Sun
by Mady Oswald
With the summer solstice right around the corner, you might find yourself in a pinch when it comes to whipping up something in celebration. Never fear—we’ve got a little list of the best food (and drink!) to celebrate the season to come.
Aside from wearing sunny colors and using this time to perform our own summer solstice rituals, it’s common practice to welcome and celebrate the season with food.
Our Top Picks
Here are a few wonderful recipes that caught our eye.
Pumpernickel Bread
Pumpernickel bread is a great thing to bring to a summer solstice feast—it’s hearty and flavorful, and shaping it into a sun helps it fit right in. But don’t worry—your bread can simply be round to represent the sun.
This pumpernickel bread from Allrecipes is sure to be a hit!
Midsummer Mead
Midsummer mead is a wonderful drink to welcome the coming harvest season. And this mead, a honeyed favorite, is just right for any Litha celebration. After all, honey has been tied to magic since ancient times—whether it was used in spells or left as offerings to deities.
Plus, its golden color fits right into the solar theme.
Grilled Vegetables
Ah, grilled veggies—not only are they tasty, but the open flame is another tribute to the wonderful sun. Roast some veggies on the open grill and get some sunshine yourself as you give thanks to the summer season.
If you’ve never grilled vegetables before, there’s no need to fret! These easy-to-follow recipes from Taste of Home should have you on the right track in no time.
Directly from Mother Earth
If you’re looking for other food to bring to the table, you can never go wrong with fresh fruit and vegetables. Traditionally, sun-colored fruits and veggies are best to honor the season and represent the sun. A few to consider are peppers, tomatoes, squash, and corn. The same goes for fruit—if it’s golden or sun-colored, it’s just right for celebrating the solstice! Try digging into some peaches, oranges, nectarines, and mangoes.
As a little bonus, you can keep the peach pits to turn into necklaces to protect your life, safety, and health.
And there you have it—your own little guide to honor the season and the sun. You’re ready to pop into your kitchen for a spell and whip up something that tastes absolutely magical. Let us know how your recipes turned out in the comments below!
Blessed be, and have a wonderful summer!
Mady Oswald is a freelance writer with a love for the paranormal and nature. When she's not at her computer, she's out exploring the world, baking little treats, and saving the bees.
Let’s All Go to Stonehenge!
Gathering at Stonehenge for the summer solstice is a long-standing pagan tradition, one I’ve sadly never been able to attend. (Don’t get me started about how I spent two days twenty minutes away from the spot and had no idea. Way to go, self.) This year, because of COVID, no one is going—or at least they shouldn’t be, and Stonehenge’s keepers respectfully ask you to stay home.
But there’s good news: We are able to visit virtually! English Heritage and Stonehenge are joining forces on Saturday to livestream the sunset and the Sunday morning sunrise. So even though we can’t be there in person, we can all sit down in our comfy clothes at home (or skyclad, your call) with tea and solstice cakes and celebrate virtually. Will you join me?
Coming up next week…
Come on back next week for a halfway-to-Christmas celebration! We’ll learn about the Yule Lads, and highlight a couple of them that love a good morsel of food.
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