Midsummer, the summer Solstice. It is usually celebrated around the 21st of June, on the longest day of the year. You can check your local paper, or calendar to find the exact day and time. The sun at this point becomes less predominate in the sky as the dark begins to take over in preparation for winter. It may not appear to be so, but in nature this is what is beginning to happen.

Summer Solstice is known by several names- here are just a few. Feill-Sheatain (Pecti-Wita) and is celebrated on the 5th of July. Alban Hefin (Caledonii) and is celebrated on the longest day, or close to it. The Solstice is also known as The Midsummer Night's Celebration, though this does not necessarily coincide with the astrological calendar.

This Sabbat is devoted to the Sun-God aspect of the year. The sun is at its highest and brightest point, and thus is honored. Midsummer is both a fire festival and a water festival, the fire being the God-aspect and the water the Goddess-aspect. This is a time to rejoice in the fullness of the year.

The actual ritual is celebrated as the turning of the year from waxing to waning. It is during this Sabbat that the Oak King falls to the Holly King. The Goddess during this time is represented in her Death-in-Life aspect. She presides over the death and birth of each of the Gods (Oak and Holly). At Midsummer she dances her Dance of Life.

If possible this ritual should be held out of doors with two bon-fires on the outer edges of the circle. These are to be passed through by every member of your Circle. Some believe that as you go through you should wish, and that if granted it will come true. The bonfire has always been associated with having great magickal power. Whether the belief is to jump the fire or drive cattle through it, or even walk through it. The ashes from the fire are often gathered and tossed into the fields to help promote the growth in the following year to come. In some countries the belief was that the height gained in jumping the fire would foretell the height of the next crop. This is also where the myth of Witches flying on brooms supposedly stemmed from.
Decorate your Circle or home with the colors of the season. Red and Yellow for fire, Blue for the Goddess (water color), and White to intensify your magick practices. This festival should be very dramatic, theatrical in nature. You may even choose to do as we have and use five masks that depict the Maiden, the Young King, the Lady (or Mother), the Declining King (Oak King), and the Crone. These are a representation of the Divine Beings in an archaic way. You may assemble them in anyway that you wish.

The above representations come from the British Isles. Flowers of red, maize yellow or gold are very appropriate for the altar and the home, including sun-flowers. If you wish you could make a wreath of red and yellow feathers for your door.
If you wish more information on fire-festival traditions check for books on the topic at your local library. A suggestion would be the book, The Golden Bough, by Frazer.
Love and Light, Blessed Be!
Lady Rras