Blossoming in the Sun: A Celebration of the Summer Solstice with Flowers

June 17, 2024

As we say goodbye to spring and prepare to welcome warmer months, flowers can help us celebrate the summer solstice. The summer solstice has long been associated with plants and flowers, symbolizing a period of fertility, abundance, and growth. If you are planning to celebrate the summer solstice or simply want to be in the welcome company of flowers that complement this time of year, keep these tips and flowers in mind.

What Is the Summer Solstice?

The summer solstice is marked on June 21st when the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky. This creates the longest day of the year for people living in the Northern Hemisphere. The beginning of summer has been recognized and celebrated for thousands of years. “Solstice” is Latin for “sun standing still.”

The Historic Connection Between Summer Solstice and Flowers

The summer solstice is a time when people celebrate the abundance of the Earth. The crossing of spring to summer is often naked with the flourishing of plant life and the blossoming of flowers. In pagan celebrations, flowers and healing herbs were believed to be their power potent and powerful during the summer solstice. Pagans also wore protective garlands of flowers to protect themselves from evil spirits.

Ancient festivals held during the summer solstice always featured colorful displays adorned with flowers that honored the season’s abundance. Flowers were often offered as gifts to deities or spirits in return for blessings that secured bountiful harvests. Flowers continue to play a central role in summer solstice celebrations, symbolizing vitality, beauty, and renewal.

How to Use Flowers for Summer Solstice Celebrations

When shopping for flowers to celebrate the summer solstice, keep certain flowers in mind that have historically been tied to this time of year. One of the oldest symbols of the summer solstice is the sunflower, Helianthus annus. Sunflowers track the sun throughout the day, facing east in the morning and then west when the sun sets.

St. John’s Wort is associated with St. John’s solstice feast day. The bright yellow plant comes into bloom in mid-summer. The Celts believed the plant to be magical and associated St. John’s Wort with an abundant harvest. One of the prime times for gathering the plant and its flowers was during the summer solstice. Doing so was thought to maximize the power of the Sun and the powers within the plant. Today, St. John’s Wort is thought to ease symptoms of depression.

In ancient times, lavender was revered for its healing and protective qualities. During the summer solstice, people blended lavender with mugwort, chamomile, and rose. This mixture was thought to attract elves and fairies. Harvesting lavender on the solstice was thought to honor the gods.

Let Flower Works Guide Your Summer Solstice Celebrations

The summer solstice continues to be an exciting time, with flowers blooming and life flourishing. Whatever type of summer flower you need, we are here to help. Please feel free to reach out to our team with any questions you have about how to celebrate the summer solstice.

Newsletter blurb: When shopping for flowers to celebrate the summer solstice, keep certain flowers in mind that have historically been tied to this time of year. One of the oldest symbols of the summer solstice is the sunflower, Helianthus annus. Sunflowers track the sun throughout the day, facing east in the morning and then west when the sun sets.

St. John’s Wort is associated with St. John’s solstice feast day. The bright yellow plant comes into bloom in mid-summer. The Celts believed the plant to be magical and associated St. John’s Wort with an abundant harvest. In ancient times, lavender was revered for its healing and protective qualities.

During the summer solstice, people blended lavender with mugwort, chamomile, and rose. Please feel free to reach out to our team with any questions you have about how to celebrate the summer solstice.

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