The sun is at its strongest point, and is the longest day of the year. This marks the change of the waxing sun of the Oak King, to the waning sun of the Holly King, large bonfires are lit as an expression of the climaxing sun. They are lit also as an insurance of the return of the waxing sun.
Traditionally, protection rites, charms and spells would be done at this time for the home and loved ones. Herds might have been driven between two large bonfires to protect them. People would join in with the herds, running through the bonfires or jumping over them. This would capture the strength of energy, protecting them as the “dark” days approached.
The masculine aspect of deity is now at its maturity... as the Goddess is reaching into her “Mother” aspect, pre-harvest, fruit-bearing.
There are several myths and legends that give story and understanding to the waxing and waning of the year. The Egyptian “Phoenix”, the bird that built up a nest, then burned himself to ashes to then rise again, stronger, revitalized, renewed. In the legend of King Arthur, the story of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, a challenge between the two, resembles a continuing change with the Oak King and the Holly King. Sir Gawain(Oak King) beheads the Green Knight(Holly King)... the Green Knight proceeds to pick up his head and challenges Sir Gawain for the following year. This is sometimes acted out in ritual on Yule, while some groups act it out on Summer Solstice and at Yule.
The “myths" not only depict a changing of the Sun, aspects of the flux of energies, but also addresses some of the contents of life, internal battles within oneself, the light and dark aspects of our personalities and lives, one giving way to another. Celebrations may include lighting candles around a house, making charms or casting protections spells, ritual gathering of certain herbs, lighting small cauldrons and jumping over them, burning papers of “traits” (personal or in ones life) that is desired to wane with the waning of the year, and of course, joyous celebration, feasting, singing, chatting and dancing.
