50+ Litha Recipes to Enjoy the Foods of the Summer Solstice

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Litha is a pagan holiday that honors the Summer Solstice, which occurs between June 20th and June 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s the first day of Summer and the date when the day is the longest and the night is the shortest. (Its corresponding holiday in the Southern Hemisphere is Yule.)

Some ways you can celebrate Litha are by enjoying recipes that include honey, practicing love magic, decorating your altar, or enjoying a bonfire. Or simply focus on honoring the Sun and welcoming in the warmth of the new season.

Here, you’ll find a list of traditional foods as well as modern and classic recipes for the holiday. And, if you’re looking for more Solstice activities, you can find them here!

Peach Panzanella — *Photo Credit: Food Banjo*

What Is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. It’s when Summer officially begins. It’s an important day that has been celebrated by cultures all over the world for centuries, including by the Romans (their Midsummer Day was marked in the calendar on June 24th), Swedes, British, Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, and many more.

If you are lucky enough to get to be at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice sunrise, you’ll see the rising Sun perfectly framed by the stones as it did when it was first constructed.

For Wiccans and some neo-pagans, the summer solstice is known as Litha. It’s the holiday on the Wheel of the Year that symbolizes the peak of the Oak King’s reign and the return of the Holly King. (Each represents a different aspect of the Horned God.) The details about this get a little murky, but you can read more about them here.

What Are the Foods of Litha?

The foods of Litha include yellow, orange, and red vegetables and summer fruits like strawberries, since those are at their peak and represent the color of the sun. (It’s also why we call the June Moon the Strawberry Moon.) Honey is another popular ingredient in Litha recipes as it represents the sweetness of the season and was used to make mead.

The summer solstice is the warmest time of the year (unless you live in Los Angeles, when apparently, that’s September). Nature is in a sunny mood and, often, we are too. And, you’ll see that brightness and fire energy reflected in the seasonal foods of the holiday.

If you’re looking for traditional foods of the Summer Solstice, those will change by region. The Aztecs and Egyptians ate very different foods than the Druids. But, below you’ll find foods that represent the energy of season as well as some enjoyed today by those in Sweden as part of their Midsommar festival.

Foods of Litha include:

Honey
Strawberries
Summer squash
Mead
Lemon
Summer herbs (thyme, dill, chives, garlic)
Yellow, red, and orange fruits and vegetables
Recipes that require fire

Summer Solstice Recipes for Litha

Some of these Litha recipes are more traditional, while others are inspired by the foods enjoyed at the summer solstice. One of the most symbolic foods of Litha is honey, so if nothing else, try to enjoy some that day, even if in your tea.

1. Honey

Honey comes in many varieties. You can enjoy local honey found a stand or your farmer’s market or at most grocery stores. If you want to also lean into the fire energy of the holiday, there’s also always spicy honey, like Mike’s Hot Honey.

And, if you’re making the honey cake below, you’ll want this honeycomb-inspired mold.

Honey Infused with Flowers — *Photo Credit: Frolic and Fare*

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2. Strawberries

Strawberries are at their peak ripeness around the summer solstice. So, if you’ve been longing for sweet, tart, luscious berries, enjoy them now.

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls — *Photo Credit:* *Britney Breaks Bread*

3. Summer Herbs

Fresh herbs like dill, thyme, basil, and cilantro awaken the flavor within the seasonal summer foods.

Basil Ice Cream — *Photo Credit: Frolic and Fare*

4. Yellow, Orange, and Red Fruits and Vegetables

Fire-colored fruits and vegetables like summer squash, peppers, oranges, and lemon evoke the power of the Sun and the represent the heat of summer.

Lemon Pasta with Chicken — *Photo Credit: In the Kitch*

5. Summer Berries

Many summer fruits like raspberries and strawberries are in those fire energy colors. Others are simply seasonal and best enjoyed during summer.

Blueberry Cocktail — *Photo Credit: Vintage Kitchen Notes*

6. BBQ and Fiery Foods

Whether you’re turning up the heat literally with a barbecue or you’re just cranking up the spice level, these recipes symbolize the hot, powerful energy of the Sun.