What Is Litha?
Litha marks the summer solstice — the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its peak and the world blazes with light and warmth. It is a time of abundance, radiance, and the triumph of light — and also the moment when the year begins its slow turn back toward darkness. Midsummer fires are lit, solar deities are honoured, and the full power of the living world is celebrated.
Litha Mythology & Traditions
Sol and Sunna, the Norse goddesses of the sun, are the heart of the Norse midsummer tradition — the divine force that drives the sun across the sky each day. Freyr, Norse god of sunshine, fertility, and prosperity, embodies the ripening earth at the height of summer. Baldr, the beloved god of light and purity, shines brightest at the solstice — his myth a reminder that even the greatest light must eventually yield to darkness. The Oak King reigns supreme at Litha, the solar king at the height of his power before the Holly King rises at the turning of the year. Áine, the Irish goddess of the sun and summer, brings the Celtic voice of midsummer — a goddess of love, light, and the fertile land.
How to Set Up a Litha Altar
A Litha altar should radiate warmth and solar energy. Use a gold or yellow cloth as your base. Place sunflowers, marigolds, or St John's Wort around your altar space. Gold and orange candles honour the solstice sun. Place your solar deity statue at the centre as the focal point. Add a sun wheel or solar disc symbol, and offerings of honey, mead, or fresh summer fruit. Light your candles at sunrise on the solstice morning to greet the sun at its peak.
Featured Statues for Your Litha Altar
Sol & Sunna Statue – Norse Sun Goddess
Sol and Sunna — the Norse goddesses who drive the sun across the sky — are the most direct solar presence for a Litha altar. This hand-carved ash wood statue captures the radiant energy of the midsummer sun. Individually carved in Ukraine and finished with varnish.
Freyr Statue – Norse God of Sunshine & Fertility
Freyr, Norse god of sunshine, fertility, and prosperity, embodies the ripening earth at the height of summer. A powerful and meaningful statue for a Litha altar honouring the abundance of the solstice season.
Baldr Statue – Norse God of Light & Purity
Baldr, the beloved god of light and purity, shines brightest at the solstice. His statue brings the sacred brightness of midsummer to your altar — a reminder of the beauty and fragility of the light at its peak.
Oak King Statue – Solar King at the Height of His Reign
The Oak King reigns supreme at Litha — the solar king at the height of his power. This hand-carved ash wood statue honours the Wiccan and Celtic tradition of the Oak and Holly Kings, the eternal cycle of light and dark.
Áine Statue – Irish Goddess of the Sun & Summer
Áine, the Irish goddess of the sun, love, and the fertile land, brings the Celtic voice of midsummer to your altar. Her energy is warm, radiant, and deeply connected to the living earth at the height of summer.
Explore the Full Litha Collection
Browse all midsummer statues in our Litha Summer Solstice Collection — hand-carved ash wood solar deities from Norse and Celtic traditions, individually carved in Ukraine and finished with varnish.
Each ArtCarving Shop statue is hand-carved in Ukraine from sustainable ash wood — no two pieces are identical. Bring the radiance of the summer solstice to your altar with a piece that carries the craft and intention of the maker's hands.