The First Summer Rascal Fair

June 21st. Summer solstice. That time of year when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. The beginning of summer for those in the US. Summer Solstice is also known as Midsummer and many different cultures have festivals and celebrations in honor of it. Let us study some of these celebrations while touring Montana blogs.<br />n<br />nThe Gauls midsummer celebration was called Feast of Epona. This was named after a mare goddess who stood for fertility, sovereignty and agriculture. Pandora brings us thoughts of agriculture with a <a href="http://www.terrestrialball.com/offerings/2005/06/and_now_for_the.html">picturesque tour</a> of the Southern Agricultural Research Center in Huntley.<br />n<br />nDave over at A Different Lemming regales us with a wild story of <a href="http://www.dmerriman.dyndns.org/blog/archives/50">youthful indiscretions</a> that leads to needing healing of body and soul. Some of the Celtic Pagan religions called the summer solstice the Midsummer or Litha. This is a time for healing rituals which it sounded like Dave needed, or did he?<br />n<br />nNowdays there isn't as many celebrations for the summer solstice. While there might not be celebrations, there are traditions and one American tradition is a road trip. Craig gives us <a href="http://www.mtpolitics.net/archives/1429">some examples</a> of what we might see on the road trip, if we are unlucky of course. <br />n<br />nI your host want to make you think of the Ancient Germanic, Slav and Celtic tribes in Europe and there celebration of the solstice. They built bonfires that lovers would jump through to bring luck and prediction. I <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/1027-Pictures.html">share</a> a <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/1039-Pictures-From-SDW.html">few</a> post from or about my <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/1035-Attack.html">special love</a> to show you her importance to me and predict a long, and hopefully happy, union of souls.<br />n<br />nI hope your journey of this summer celebrations lightens your souls and hearts and brings joy to you all. Best wishes and God bless.<br />n<br />n<b>Oh, what a catastrophe for man when he cut himself off from the rhythm of the year, from his unison with the sun and the earth. Oh, what a catastrophe, what a maiming of love when it was a personal, merely personal feeling, taken away from the rising and the setting of the sun, and cut off from the magic connection of the solstice and the equinox! D.H. Lawrence</b><br />n<br />n<b>UPDATE:</b> A couple of last minute entries for the Fair graced my box this morning.<br />n<br />nRandy informs us of a <a href="http://www.sfolife.net/?p=1178">looming problem</a> in our society that needs attention right away to be corrected.<br />n<br />nLast but not least Annie <a href="http://montannie.blogspot.com/2005/06/rerun-week-can-i-have-your-autograph.html">pitches an idea</a> so that famous people would minimize thier writers cramp. Not something I will have to worry about, that's for sure.