Lita (English Litha) is an ancient European festival of Midsummer. It is celebrated on the summer solstice (June 20-21), when the sun reaches its peak. In different European languages, this day can have different names: Lita, Ligo, Midsummer, Midsummer, Midsummer, Kupala.
Historically, this holiday is associated with the Celtic tradition. Among the Celtic peoples of ancient Britain, Lita was one of the eight great holidays of the wheel of the year, symbolizing the changing seasons of nature under the influence of the movement of the Sun around the Earth.
In the pagan tradition, many beliefs are associated with the Midsummer Day. It is believed that this is a special night of the year, when otherworldly forces are most powerful and can manifest themselves in ordinary life. The ritualism of the holiday clearly indicates the cult of the Sun associated with it. It is no coincidence that the main place in the celebration is occupied by various forms of ritual fires: bonfires, torches, candles, wheels of fire.
Particular importance was attached to the folding of festive bonfires. Firewood or brushwood was collected in advance, and in some countries, only certain types of trees could be used for this. In particular, in France and Valencia, for ivan fires, in addition to ordinary firewood, blackberry branches were traditionally added. Fire for the fire was also obtained in a special, "clean" way, using friction or a magnifying glass.
In the modern neopagan tradition, the symbols of the Midsummer Day are considered: fire, the Sun, mistletoe, oak leaves, bonfires and elves-fairies. Natural flowers, fragrant mixtures, shells, summer fruits, as well as love amulets and symbols are widely used to decorate festive altars. Usually, those celebrating Lita decorate their homes with green branches, wreaths and garlands of fresh flowers. The necessary plants for this holiday are St. John's wort, fennel, birch, white lilies, hare cabbage.
For many centuries, on the holiday of Lita, they traditionally collected fragrant and medicinal herbs, danced in circles, and organized ritual ceremonies. In the evenings, after dark, torchlight processions were arranged and festive bonfires were lit. The night of the summer solstice was considered the most suitable time for fortune telling, divination and communication with spirits.
An important ritual was jumping over a festive bonfire, to which special magical powers were attributed. According to the ideas of ancient people, such jumps not only helped to cleanse the participants, but could also provide protection and prosperity for the family for a whole year.