Litha, also known as the summer solstice can be one of the best days in the whole year to spend some special time with your kids. Litha invites celebration and togetherness. It encourages everyone to press pause on the busyness of ordinary life, and give gratitude for the blessings surrounding us.

The summer solstice also happens to be the longest day of the year, making it a great opportunity to teach your children about the cycles of nature and the changing seasons.

There are SO many ways to celebrate the longest day with your kids!

From doing nature crafts to making up songs, and lighting a bonfire, the options are endless. You may also want to incorporate traditional rituals from the Pagan or Wiccan practices, such as collecting morning dew or doing a little love magic (so much fun with kids!)

And don’t forget, simply watching the sunrise and/or the sunset can be enough to make the day feel special.

So read on, and get ready to create some memories that will last a lifetime…

1. Get up to watch the sunrise

Litha rituals are all about celebrating the power of the sun. The simplest of all is watching the solstice sunrise. So get your day off to a magical beginning by rising early (when the sky is still dark!) and greeting the solstice sun as it rises in the east.

2. Wear yellow

To celebrate the summer solstice, wear yellow clothes all day!

3. Create a Sun wheel

Litha is an excellent time to celebrate the cyclical journey of the sun. A Sun Wheel is a traditional symbol representing the cycle of the seasons and the wheel of the year.

You will need:

• 4 sticks, all equal length

• String

• Ribbons, string or raffia, preferably red, orange and yellow tones.

• Any other natural decorations.

What do do:

• First, arrange the sticks into a star formation (like the spokes of a wheel) and tie them together at the centre using a strong string or twine.
• Once the sticks are secured at the centre, tie your first piece of raffia or ribbon to the centre point. Begin weaving the ribbon or raffia in and out of the sticks, round and round, working your way outwards.
• Continue weaving the ribbon or raffia in a circular motion, making sure to pull the material tightly to create a secure and sturdy woven circle. Add new pieces of ribbon to create stripes, and patterns, as you like.
• Once you have woven all the way around the sticks, tie off the ribbon or raffia at the back of the sun wheel to secure it in place.
• Trim any excess ribbon or raffia, and your sun wheel is now complete and ready to be displayed.

4. Go on a nature walk and scavenger hunt

Another great way to celebrate Litha with your children is by exploring the natural world. Take a nature walk and make it into a scavenger hunt to find flowers, leaves, and other natural decorations.

Encourage your children to look around them, taking their time to notice plants, trees, rocks or other details they may normally miss. Make it a time to connect deeplywith the natural world and appreciate the beauty of the summer season

Use any items you find to decorate your sun wheel, make flower crowns, do rubbings with or draw pictures of in a nature journal.

4. Try cloud divination

One of the best litha activities if you’re in need of a lie-down!

Find a quiet spot with a clear view of the sky, and get everyone to lie down on their backs. Encourage everyone to think of a question, and send it up into the sky. Then watch the cloud formations change, and look out for any shapes, images, symbols or signs that could be the answer.

5. Make a herb and flower wreath

Wreaths aren’t reserved for winter solstice! Making a summer solstice wreath is a great way to harness the energy of the season, and is a powerful symbol of the cycles of nature.

You will need:

• A ready-made willow wreath (or make your own and tie it with twine)
• String
• flowers and herbs
• Any other natural decorations.

What do do:

• First, make your flowers and herbs into sets of little bunches (you’ll need about 3 or 4 different designs)
• Place them on the wreath, spacing them out equally with the flowers pointing outwards, at an angle and tie them on with string.
• Ensure the wreath is completely covered, and the ends of all the bunches are covered up neatly.
• Add any other decorations and tie on string for hanging.

(Check out the STUNNING wreath by Amble and Twine, pictured above)

6. Light a bonfire

Fire is SUCH a big part of any litha celebration and though it may seem risky with children, it’s also important to teach them fire safety.. and there’s no better way than with a real fire!

Create a small area for your fire, with a ring of stones, or use a fire pit if you have one. Have a stack of wood close by, so you don’t need to leave it unattended. You can then dance, sing songs, and tell stories beside the crackle and warmth of the flames.

7. Make daisy chains

Simple but so soothing, sitting on a patch of grass in the summer, making daisy chains is a beautiful litha ritual requiring very little effort.

8. Design a mandala

Mandalas are circular patterns, arranged into sections that are all organized around a single, central point. They’re significant in many Asian cultures, though they appear all over the world, as people make them as offerings to nature.

Encourage your kids to gather leaves, flowers, twigs, and any other natural items from your garden, and arrange them into beautiful patterns on the earth. I love to create simple mandalas at the bases of trees or in forgotten corners of the garden, as offerings to the nature spirits who live there.

9. Tell stories about nature deities

Litha is the perfect time to connect with the divine energies of the land.

Research folktales and stories about nature deities in your local area. Talk about Mother Earth, the Oak King, the Holly King, and the Green Man. Encourage your children to make up their own stories, and poems, and draw pictures of what they think these beings may look like.

10. Make a spell jar

A spell jar is a jar filled with items that represent something you want in life. For children, you can encourage them to focus on gratitude or happiness. Offer a selection of little crystals, herbs, dried flowers, and other symbolic objects. They may like to draw or write notes, cut pictures out of magazines, or add any of their own special belongings.

Once it’s complete, place the jar in the solstice sun to be charged and blessed.

11. Collage a vision board

Gather magazines, pictures, and other items that represent your child’s wishes dreams. Help them create a collage on a poster board and encourage them to visualize their dreams coming true.

12. Make music and dance!

The longest day of the year calls for celebration! Using simple instruments like drums, tambourines, and bells, make music together to thank the sun for the light and power that gives us life.

Invite friends and family to join in, dancing to connect with the energy of the season.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out some traditional Litha dances and songs.

13. Prepare seasonal treats

Food is another great way to celebrate, and planning and preparing it is one of the most important litha activities! Some popular foods and dishes from modern times include:

• Strawberry shortcake

• Watermelon salad

• Grilled corn on the cob

14. Make a herbal infusion

Making a summer infusion is a great way to involve kids in the alchemy of food prep.

Simply fill a large glass jar with a lid (like a mason jar) with clean fresh water and help them to add in a selection of edible herbs and flowers. Screw on the lid, and leave in the direct sunlight for 3 -5 hours. You could add:

• Mint

• Lemon verbena

• Chamomile

• Rose

• Raspberry leaves

• A little honey and ice cubes when it’s ready

This is a great way to connect with the abundance of the season and to teach your children about the importance of food and community.

15. Dream deeply

When you go to bed, you’ll be sleeping through the shortest night. Encourage your child to dream colourfully, and see if they can remember what they were shown the following morning.

Solstice blessings. May you celebrate litha with joy, love and magic.