Summer solstice 2022 Pagan: How do Norse Pagans celebrate summer solstice?

The summer solstice, also known as festival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun.

The summer solstice occurs twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).

For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky (for areas outside of the tropics) and is the day with the longest period of daylight.

Within the Arctic circle (for the northern hemisphere) or Antarctic circle (for the southern hemisphere), there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice.

On the summer solstice, the Earth’s maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44°. Also, the Sun’s declination from the celestial equator is 23.44°.

How do Norse Pagans celebrate summer solstice?

In Pagan times, certain cultures viewed the summer solstice as an important date in the calendar.

For instance, the Vikings held the belief that the summer solstice was the perfect time to pray for an abundant harvest from the Norse gods of fertility, Freyia and Freyr.

To increase the probability of success, these pagans executed certain rituals during Midsummer as they believed that the presence of evil spirits was strong during the longest day of the year, so they would light huge bonfires to ward off dark forces.

These pagans are also believed to have visited stone circles, such as Stonehenge.

Some women also place wildflowers and herbs under their pillow on Midsummer’s Eve as it is said that they dream about their future husbands when they place the wildflowers/herbs there.